IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


.<i^     ^     ^  ^ 


7y 


1.0    If 


I.I 


1.25 


::liM 


1.4 


2.5 
12.0 

m 

1.6 


V] 


<^ 


/2 


^l 


0%    '\y 


"c^^ 


i? 


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-(!^ 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


a  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBST(:R,  i4.Y.  M580 

(716)  SV-i-4S03 


4'  #^ 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  canadien  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  d6tails 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mdthode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqu6s  ci-dessous. 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


□   Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


D 


Couverture  endommag6e 


□    Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur^e  et/ou  pellicul^e 


Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


[~n    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  giographiques  en  couleur 


n    Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommag6es 

□    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pellicul^es 

0    Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  d6color6es,  tachetdes  ou  piqudes 

□Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d^tachdes 


D 


n 


n 


Coloured  inl<  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


□    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Relid  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serr6e  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  mrrge  intdrieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouties 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  6ta<t  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  filmies. 


r~7|    Showthrough/ 


D 


Transparence 


n    Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Quality  in^gaie  de  I'impression 

I — I    Includes  supplementary  material/ 


Comprend  du  materiel  supplimentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6x6  film^es  it  nouveau  de  fa^on  6 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


D 


Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplAmentaires; 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmA  au  taux  da  reduction  indiqui  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


y 


26X 


30X 


12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


2IX 


32X 


Tha  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 


L'exempleire  filmA  fut  reproduit  grAce  A  la 
ginArositA  da: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Las  images  suiventes  ont  AtA  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
de  la  nettetA  de  l'exempleire  filmi,  et  en 
conformity  avec  las  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  originel  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Les  exemplaires  origineux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimAe  sont  filmis  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  so*t  par  la 
derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autras  exemplaires 
origineux  sont  film^s  en  commenpant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — »>  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ",  le 
symboie  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Meps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  tu  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  end  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
filmis  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffArents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  il  est  film^  A  partir 
de  I'angle  supdrieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mithode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

3p 


^ 


CoUectLorv 


H( 


-6 


!f 


* 

A 


SPEECH 


ot 


HON.  EGBERT  SMITH,  OF  ILLINOIS, 


ON 


THE  OREGON  QUESTION. 


DELIVERED 


IN  THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES,  SATURDAY,  FEBRUARY  7,  184G 


WASHINGTON : 

PRINTED  AT  THE  OFFICE  OF  BLAIR  AND  RIVES. 

1846. 


%<.l 


THE    OREGON   QUESTION. 


j  in  captiiriii'j:  ilic  Drilish  pus't  at  llic  anricnt  town  of 
IvasUiiskia,  and  C'iin|"llcd  tlic  I'rniJ.s  of  St.  George 
to  i;ivc  place  to  the  stars  and  stripes  of  our  l)f;lov«;d 
j  eonffdrracy.  Hut  fir  the  sa,',^ar,ity,  tntcrprise,  and 
I  patriotism  of  General  Clark  and  liis  irallant  nssoc.i- 
'  ates,  one  of  tlic  fairest  and  richest  portions  of  tlii:-! 


rVio  RpKolution  reported  hy  tlic  C(jnmuttec  on  For- 
eign Affairs  direetin;::  notice  of  twelve  months  to 
be  !i;ivcn  to  terniinatc  the  Convention  with  Great 
I'ritain  for  the  joint  occujiati(m  of  Oregon,  be- 
inir  under  consideration  in  Committee  of  the 
Whole  on  the  state  of  the  Union: 

Mr.  8.MITII  addressed  the  committee  as  follow;^:  I  Union  mi-ht  still  have  been  a  dependency  of  Great 
Mr.  CiiAiriMAK-:  In  risinir  at  thislate  sta-jeof  the  '  I^''"'i"i-  ^  he  people  ot  that  re-iun  .mdol  the  North- 
debate,  on  the  proposition  now  before  the  commit-  i  we.-tern  States  will  ever  keep  in  vivid  remembrance 
'ee,  I  have  neither  the  vanity  nortlie  eirotism  to  suii-  I  ''''"^t  'l"-y  "Wf  the  blessmv^s  of  the  liberty  and  free- 
pose  that  I  can  say  much  that  is  new,  or  that  will  1  ''""'  ^"''""''i  t'"T  '>"^\'  "^".i"!  t'»  tl»e  success  of  Gen- 
tle interesting  to  those  who  may  hear  me;  and  could  I  f,'''^'  Clark's  expedition.  Tiiey  ].arlakc  largely  of 
I  be  certain  that  llie  resolution  introduced  by  the    '    " 


honorable  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Foreign 
Affairs  would  pas.s  this  Hmisc  without  any  amend- 
iiuiits,  and  '  t  it  would  be  followed  by  the  pas- 
sage of  appi  riate  bills  to  protect  and  seciux  oiir 
rights,  and  tli'  e  of  oui'  settlers  in  Oregon,  and  all 
who  are  dispos'  'I  to  emigrate  thither,  I  would  con- 
lent  myself  with  simply  voting  for  all  such  meas- 
ures, and  refiain  from  troubling  the  committee 
with  a  speecdi  at  this  time.  But  as  .some  doubt 
seems  to  exist  in  relation  to  this  matter,  I  feel  it  a 
duty  I  owe  both  to  myself  and  to  those  who  gave 
me  a  seat  in  this  House,  to  express  my  views  boldly 
iind  fiarli'sshj  nn  this  great  American  question.  I 
agree  with  the  venerable  gentleman  from  Massa- 
clnisctts  [Mr.  Aiiams]  and  other  gentlemen,  who 
say  that  this  is  one  of  the  most  important  questions 
which  ever  lias,  or  ever  will,  come  before  nn  Ameri- 
can Congress.  And,  .sir,  let  me  tell  gentlov.on  that 
such  is  the  magnitude  of  this  question,  and  so 
strong  and  deep  are  the  convictions  of  the  people 
ihrou^-hout  the  length  and  breadth  of  th'  country, 
ihai  the  whole  of  the  territory  called  Oregon  (in- 
cluded within  the  parallels  of  4:2'^an(!  '14'-^  40' north 
latitude)  belongs  to  the  United  State.  ;  and  that  the 
settlement  and  occupation  of  that  v;luable  territory 
are  of  the  utmost  importance  to  ti.e  prosperity  and 


that  spirit  of  ad\entiu'c  which  characterized  the 
actors  ill  th;it  noble  enterprise.  They  know  well, 
sir,  the  ]ierils  and  hardships  incident  to  the  .settle- 
ment of  a  new  country,  and  to  their  defence  against 
the  depredations  of  a  savage  foe.  Many  of  them, 
too,  while  fighting  under  the  command  of  the  im- 
mortal Jackson  and  the  gallant  Johnson,  gained  an 
exiierience  that  enabled  them  to  bear  witness  that 
the  tender  mercy  of  the  British  and  Indian  warfare 
is  cruelty  refined;  but,  sir,  they  "ould  hurl  with 
scorn  tVom  theliigh  places  of  ])owerrt(iiy  public  ser- 
vant who  would  shrink  from  the  maintenance  of 
the  ritxltls  and  linnor  of  the  nation,  or  from  the  de 
fence,  to  the  very  last,  of  every  inch  of  territory 
which  of  right  belong.s  to  us,  even  though  it  were 
a  barren  rock  or  steril  sands.  Our  right  and  title 
to  the  Oregon  territory  has  t'or  years  occupied  tlio 
attention  of  our  wisest  and  most  enlightened  states- 
men and  jurists.  They  have  spoken,  written,  and 
published  the  result  of  their  investigations  upon 
the  subject,  and  spread  them  abroatl  througlnmt 
the  land.  The  peojilc  have  read  and  maturely  re- 
flected upon  this  ([ueslioii,  and  they  have  deliber- 
ately decided  that  the  territory  is  our.s,  and  should 
be  (lefeiided,  if  need  be,  (in  the  language  of  Jack- 
son,) at  the  "cannon's  mouth." 

The  (lueslion  of  title  has  lieen  so  ably  and  fully 


harmony  of  the  whole  Uni(m,  'uid  to  the;  perma-  j  discussed,  that  I  will  not  go  into  an  elaborate  ex- 
nency  of  our  republican  form  of  government;  that  |  position  of  it.  As  it  is  acknowledged  by  all  that 
it  will,  like  a  mighty  avalancli(\  overwhelm,  or/io-  j  Spain  first  discovered  the  northwest  coast  of  Anier- 
I'dically  bury,  all  who  obstruct  or  oppose  the  meas-  ica,  and  as  we.  by  the  *'  Florida  treaty  of  l''eb- 
nres  necessiuy  for  the  consummation  of  this  great  '  ruary,  l^<l'.),"  came  into  possession  of  (he  Spanish 
object.  ,  title,  I  will  <ro   back  to   a  ]ieriod  earlier  tlian  the 

1  come,  sir,  from  one  of  the  oldest  settled  portions  ;  discovery  of  Sir  Francis  Drake,  by  virtue  of  whose 
of  tlie  great  valley  of  the  Mississi]i]>i — from  that  !  discoveries  Great  ISritain  lays  some  claim  to  thi.s 
beautiful  and  fertile  cotuitry  irrcstid  from  the  mo-  !  territory.  And  in  doing  this,  I  shall  xtract  from 
nopolizing  grasp  of  Great  I5ritain  on  the  4ih  day  of  |  the  able  reports  of  Mr.  Cusliing  and  Mr.  Baylies, 
July,  1778,  by  tha..  bold,  daring,  and  chivalrous  [  and  the  writings  of  other  distinguished  gentlemen 
soldier,  George  RogerR  Clark,  of  Viririnia,  and  j  wiio  have  examined  thoroui'-hly  the  early  liislory 
his  intrepid  follower,'^.  These  brave  men  succeeded  i  and  Kettlemcut  of  this  territory. 


I 


"  Witlmut  r<'l\  ui'j;  upon    l')o  FniUr,  and  irivins; 
away  »vcii  tlw  \(>yai;c  of  Maldojiaiio,  %vc  liavr 
aiitlii  iiiic  pi'ools  tliiii    '.'ahrillo  (nr  I''crr('lo)   laid 
fxploic-d  ti)  latiiudi'  V.P  in  i'A'\\  tl)ai  Gali  was  at 
;<7"^  .■)()',  if  not  at  57'^  .■!!)'  in    i:)V>,  ilml   ilic  S;iii 
AiiLnistiii   wa.s  at   till'   l)ay  of  San    Vranri ^cd  in 
l')!!.");  that   Juan  di-  l-'ura   fiitrred  tlic  strait  nov 
iH'arini;  ins  luuin'  in  l.')lt;2;  and  that,  in  ItiO'i,  Viz- 
caino (that  is,  Martin  de  Aguiluf,)  suivt'yi'd  lliu 
coast  of  California  as  far  tip  as  the  river  of  A^ui-  i 
hir.     Bcsidfs  which,  tlio  (muci-  coast  of  California 
was  ixplorcil  iinnicdiatcly  after  the  contj-  est   hy 
the  orders  of  Cm-tcs  mul   of  Mcnduza,  to  Cape  ; 
IVIendiii.ino,   and  was   rcpratcdly  visited  hy  lli».' 
Manilla  sliip.-: — to   provide  a  port  for  wlnan  tlie  ; 
ex|)edition  ot"  V'i/caino  was,  in  part,  iiiidertaKi'ii.  ' 
And    upon    these   various  discoveries,   tind    the  . 
tiroximity   of  tiieir  settlenientsi  in   Mexico,  the  ; 
Govenniieiit  of  Sjiain  ]irocceded,  in  the  course  of 
the  seventeenth  century,  "o  make  or  authorize  ! 
seltienienis   in   New  Caiil'ornia,  so  as  to  acfjuire  j 
all  the  territorial  rii;lit.s  liy  whi(di  any  Eurojiean 
Government  cmm'  lias  ol)tained  original  claim  to  ' 
sovereiicnty  of  the  soil  in  Ainerii'a.  j 

"  Yet  Great  Britain  sets  np  (daims  of  some  sort  , 
on   the  northwest  coast,  in  virtue  of  the  voya'^'-e  ; 
of  Sir  Fraiii-is  Drake,  who  lain.     ,  in  1570,  at  a  j 
point  on  the  coast  of  California,  eitlier  in  the  bay 
of  tSan   Kraiii'isco,   or  more  jn'ohaiily  in   that  of  i 
Bodeira,  hut   it  is  not  w(dl  settled   wliicdi.     Sir  [ 
Francis  Drake  also  apjTnaidied  the  coast  in  42  or  ; 
■i'.i  deirrees  north,  hut  without   landinir.     Due  of 
t)ie  accounts  of  his  voyoijp,  indeed,  (77(o  World 
Encompnssrd,)  fays  ho  went  to   4iP  north;  hut 
this  is  incompiatiljie  with  other  parts  of  the  same 
book,  and  also  with  another  of  the  old  accounts, 
(Famons  J-V)i/r/n-c.)     They  tell  the  story  thus:  On 
the  ,'kl  of  June,  Drake  was  in  latitude  4iP;  on 
the  r)lh,  lie  made  land  in  latitude  4',P;  InU  it  had 
then  come  on  cold  and  tempestuous  weather,  and 
he  was  comiielled  to  turn  back,   and  so  make  a 
harbor  in  latiti  de  liS'-^  31)'.     These  are  the  fii^urcs 
£;iven  in  the  h;>ol:s.     In  addition  to  which,  it  may 
be  stated  that  Ilackluyt  places  the  limit  of  J)rakc's 
voyage  at  43*^,  and    Purchas  at   4(P;  and   that 
iieither  Led  yard  nor  ]l;u-ris  carries  him  beyond 
the  limit  of  Hackhiyt."— /)'(/(,;//c.s-;(  lii'pnrt,  p'.  If). 

"  Althoui!;li  Sir  Francis  pretended  to  tiike  ]ios- 
session  of  the  country,  and  to  call  it  J\hf  ,1lbhm, 
this  could  amount  to  notliiii;^  as  against  Spain,  the 
]iric,r  discoverer.     Eiigh.md,  by  touchins;  at  New 
California,  coidd  nrit  ac'[nire  any  ri^•hts  whatever; 
for  whatever  ri^lit  such  an  act  may  be   deeincd 
by  the  Etiropean  conveiitimial  law  to  secure,  had 
already  been  appropriated  hy  Spain-.     And  Spain  i 
also  proceeded  to  do  tl!a^  whi(di  Eni^-land  did  not  j 
do,  ivnd  which,  by  the  same  European   conven- 
tional law,  is  deemed  the  coiisumnuition  of  the 
inchoiiu;  title  gained  by  diflcovery:  namely,  the  | 
formation  of  settlements  in  tlie  country  d'iscov-  j 
ercd.     To  iwy  iioiliiin;-,  therefore,  of  the  alisurd-  j 
ity  of  claiiniiii^  litle  for  England  as  against  Spain  I 
hy  the   piratical  acts    of  a   jnofessioiial  pirate —  ■ 
such  as  Sir  Francis  Drake,  in  most  of  his  cxpe-  | 
ditions  alont;;  the  American  coast,  was — to  say  I 
noihiiio;  of  this,  if  Sir  Francis  Drake  had  been  a  i 
peaceful,  oral  any  rate  a  jvtst  ex])lorcr  in  behalf  | 
of  Enu:land,  yet,  according  even  to  the  most  liberal  I 
of  all  the  rules  of  inlernatioiial  law  applicable  to  j 
his  case,  liis  acts  in  reality  conferred  on  hia  '■ 


'  Government   no    territorial    rights   wliatcver    ii, 
'  America."  '  ,  >  * 

'•  Don  Juan  Pcri'Z  set  sail  from  the  port  of  San 
'  Ijlas,  in  January,  1774,  in  the  corvittc  Santiago 
'with  Esteiian  Jose  Maitine,',  toi  a  pilot,  having 
'  orders  to  n^'omioitre  the  coa.-a  tVom  Monleii  y  I" 
'  the  (Jllih  degree  of  north  latitude.  They  ainhor 
'  ed  in  the  Road  of  Noolka  in  August,  ]774,^i/'.s<  oy 
'  all  Enropruns,  and  called  it  San  Lorenzo.  It  was 
\fhur  yeuifi  uflituumh  that  Cook  visited  the  same 
'  place,  and  called  it  King  Ge(n-:rc's  Sound." — 
llumlioldl.  ,S\iHV.  Esp.  torn.  i.p.  'VM. 

'•■  The  year  following,  (177."),)  a  second  expedi- 
'  lion  sailed  from  San  [lias,  uhder  the  (  ders  ol 
'  Don  I'.runo  Jleceta,  Don  Juan  de  Ayala,  and 
'  Don.)  nan  de  la  Bodi'ga  y  Cluadra.  The  incidents 
'  of  this  voyage  are  known  to  English  readers  by 
'  the  journal  of  the  pilot  iVhiurellc,  published  in 
'  I5arrinirt<in's  Miscellanies.  They  exj)lored  tin- 
'  coast  up  to  latitude  .5H°,  iuid  were  the  first  to  dis- 
'  cover  the  mouth  of  the  river  Coluirthi;i,  which 
'  they  called  Entradadc  llecjta." — tlujnbuldl,  luiiu 
i.,  /K/gc  !?3(t. 

"Spain  was  the  first  European  Power  that 
'doubled  Cape  Mendocino  and  Cape  Blanco,  tin 
'  first  that  visited  the  river  of  Aguihir,  the  first 
'  that  discovered  the  inlet  of  Columbia  river,  the 
'  first  that  visited  Nootka  Sound,  tlie  first  that  dis- 
'  covered  the  Strait  of  Juan  de  Fuca,  and  Ilic  first 
'  tlutt  funned  any  esluhlhluncnl  on  any  purl  nf  the 
'  vortltwest  coa:il  from  CuHfarnia  to  the  fvrty-ninth 
'  (/cgrcf  (f  north  latitude.  Here  is  the  prior  title 
'  to  that  of  J-Zngland,  both  by  discovery  and  hy 
'  .settlement," 

"  Very  slii^htinig  accounts  of  these  voyages  are 
'  to  he  found  in  tlie  English  books,  which  so  mi- 
'  iiutely  describe  that  of  Cook,  who,  on  his  third 
'  and  last  voyase  in  177H,  explored  the  coast  of 
'  America  froin  Nootka  Sound  to  Bhering's  Strait: 
'  but  beiuir  jmsterior  to  the  Spanish  navigators, 
'  Perez,  Heccta,  and  others  of  the  older  ones, 
'  could  not  by  this  voyage  confer  any  rights  of 
'  discovery  on  Great  Britain.  Moreover,  Cook's 
'  exfiloratioiis,  it  will  be  remembered,  were  from 
'  Nootka  Sound  northward,  and  do  not  touch  the 
'  country  of  Oreson."'  *  «  * 

"  Gray's  voyages  arc  intimately  connected  witii 
'  the  title  of  the  United  States  to  the  possession  of 
'  Oregon,  anil  therefore  deserve  to  be  more  dis- 
'  tiiictly  recounted. 

"In  the  year  1787,  Joseph  Barrcll,  a  distin 
'  guislied  merchant  of  Boston,  in  the  State  of  Mas- 
'  sachuselts,  )>rojected  a  voyage  of  commerce  ar-ii 
'  discovery  to  the  northwest  coast  of  America;  at;tt 
'►Samuel   Brown,  Charles  Biilfinch,  John  Derby,. 
'  Croweli  Hatch,  and  Joliii  M.  Pintard,  citizens  of 
'  the  United   States,  became  associated  with  him 
'  in  the   enterprise.    Two  vesseb  (the  siiip  Co- 
'  linnhia,   commanded    by  John   Kendrick,   and 
'  the  sloop  Washington,  by  Robert  Gray)  were 
'  eqiii|)ped    and   provided    with    suitable   cargoct= 
'  for  traflic  with   the   natives,  and  set  sail   from 
'  Boston  in  October,  17H7.     This  expedition  wn.'-. 
'  regarded   with   much  interest,  it  being  the  first 
'attempt  from  the  United  States  to  circumnavigaif 
'  the  globe.     The  Colnmhin   arrived   at   Nootk;- 
'  Sound   the   HJtli  of  Septembei,  J788,  and   tht 
'  Washington  soon  af  erwards.      Here  they  pro 
'  ceeded  to  collect  furs.    Wmie  on  the  coast,  (Jap 
'  tuin  Gray,  in  the  Washington,  entered  into,  and 


;s   whatever   ii. 

iln  port  of  San 
rv.  rti;  iSiiiiti;ii;o 
:i  pilot,  liaviiiL: 
)ia  Mniitcrcy  t>i 

'I'liry  iilirlior 
isi,  ]'il-i,Jirsl  iij 
ircn/.o.      It  \v:if- 
i^'it(■(l  tlie  siiiiii 
,'(:'s  Sound. ■' — 
I. 

.second  expcdi- 

■r  till;  c.  dt'i'.s  of 

di'   Ayida,  and 

.  'I'lic  iiii'idci'i.-- 

;lisli  ri'Hilrr.*  Iiy 

le,-  |iul)lislii-d   in 

y  cxjjlorid  llu' 

tlic  first  to  dis- 

iluialiia,  wliirli 

--  llvmholitt,  luiiu 

;ui  Pnwer  tliat 
ape  ljluni',0,  tin 
;;uilar,  tin;  fu'.st 
nnl)ia  river,  tin- 
he  fir.st  that  dis- 
Liea,  and  tlic  first 
any  part  vf  the 
0  the  fortij-nitilli 
;  tlie  prior  title 
covery  and   by 

CSC  voyage.s  are 
s,  whieli  so  nii- 
liOj  on  his  tiiird 
•cd  the  coast  oC 
Blierinir'.s  Strait: 
insh  navigator.s, 
the  ohlcr  ones, 
r  any  right.s  of 
oreover,  Cook'hi 
lered,  uere  from 
lo  not  toueli  the 

f  connected  with 
he  posfse.s.sion  of 

0  be  more  dis- 

larrcll,  a  distiH 
he  State  of  Mas- 
'  eomniercc  ara) 
of  America;  arxl 
di,  JoliiJ  Derby, 
itiird,  citizen.')  of 
ciatetl  with  him 

1  (the  siiip  Co- 
Kendriek,  and 
ert  Gray)  were 
!ui  table  cari;:oct= 
d  set  sail   from 

expedition  wot 
;  being  tlie  first 
I  eircumnaviirati 
vcd   at  Nootk;; 

J788,  and  tht 
Here  they  pro 

the  coa.7t,  ("ap- 
ntered  into,  and 


'  sailed  .«!c)me  wav  <ip,  the  loni,'-!o.si  Strait  of  Jnnn 
'  de  Fnca,  wliich  iMartinez,  in  1774,  had  seen,  bm 
'  not  ent(  red.     ("a|itain  Gray  was  then  tran.sfi  rrtd 

•  lo  rhe  Coliimt  ia,  and  ])ro:ee(h(l  in  her  to  <'an- 
'  ton  with  the  furs  collected,  and   at(":\n!on   took 

•  III  a   vo'ico  of  tei's  for   I'oston,  Ciiptain    Kendriek 
v<  m.-iniiiiL,'-  on  the  coast  in  tlie  sloop  Wiishinjrtoii. 

•Thus  fiu-  the  enterprise  had  not  proved  c  jrninfiii 
'one  to  the  p.'irlies,  two  of  whom  (.Messr.s.  Der- 
'  by  and  I'iniard)  disposed  of  their  shares  to 
'  M(\ssrs.  I'errell  ;iiid  Krowii:  who,  witli  their  re- 
'  mninini^  tissoci-iles,  deeicUd,  iievertheless,  to  de- 
'  .spateh  the  Columbia  once  ,-iu',un.  with  Captain 
'  Gray,  to  the  northwest  coast.  Tie  acef.rdinL'ly 
'  proceedrd  tliitl)(r,  and,  on  tin  7th  (.f  .May,  17'.l'2, 
'  i-atni-  in  siirht  of  jaiid  in  Iniitnde  -'A'p  ,'t.-'',  and  an- 

•  ehoii  d  in  what  he  named  I'nlfnieirs  Harbor,  now 
'  calle<l  Gray's  Harbor.  On  fi,e  Hih  of  May,  he 
'  ( iitercd  a  lari^e  river;  and  on  the  14th,  sailed  up 

•  the  same  tvbont  fonrteen  miles,  ;ind  ninained  in 
'  the  river  until  the  21sf  of  .May.  To  this  river  he 
'  s'ave  the  name  of  his  ship,  iiiid  the  'loi-th  side  of 
'  the.  entraiK  e  he  called  Cape  Hancock' — the  sontli 
'  .side,  Point  Allan. s.  This  is  the  first  entrenee 
'  and  exploration  of  the  river  Columbia,  the  inh  r  or 
'  bay  of  which,  however,  had  iieeii  seen  by  Ayala 
'  and  Heceta,  and  called  by  them  Kiitrad.i  de  He- 
'  ceta,  as  we  have  before  stated:  and  so  fu'  as  the 
'  discovery  and  exploration  at'  this  river  from  the 
'  se;i  can  confer  any  claims  of  sovereiirnty,  those 
'  claims,  theref(n-e,  beloiiu;  t<i  the.  Cniied  States, 
'  both  in  lier  own  rii;ht  and  in  riulit  of  Spain. 
'  And  althouu^li  the  voyaije  was  unprofitable  to  its 
'  eiUerprisini^  projector.s,  it  was  hi;:hly  important 

■  to  the  Unitcfi    States,  as  well  by  e;ivin2;  rights  of 

•  d  iseo\ cry  as  lie(;anse  it  opened  the  way  to  a  most 
'  valua!  !e   and    prodnelive   coninK.ree,  whii'h   was 

•  afterwards  pursued  by  other  citizens  of  tlie  Uni- 

•  ted  Slates." 

"  Vancouver  hiniselt",  in  his  own  narriiive,  states 
'  truly  and  candidly,  with  the  frankne.-s  natural  lo 
'a  brave  sailor,  that  he  derived  the  lciiowled2:e  of 
'  the  existence  fd'  Columbia  river  iViiii  «.'aptain 
'  Gr;iy,  who  liad  previously  visited  it,  and  named 

■  it,  and  who  snokc  Vaiicmiver.  and  commuiiii  aled 
'  to  him  the  fact.  On  the  rj'.nh  of  April,  17!V.'.  Van- 
'  couver  says  that  he  spoke  ihi^  ship  Coluniliia,  of 
'  [Josion,  Captain  Robert  Gray:  that  Gray  i;ave  in- 
'  formation  of  a  river  in  A(P  W ;  and  he  then  jiro- 
'  ceeils  to  mention  a  previous  voyage,  that  of  the 
'  Washiniftonjin  which  Gray  had  entered  the  Strait 

•  of.lua.n  de  Fu<"i. — (  l'()]ias:r,  vol.  i.)  Af'erwards, 
'  when  Vancouver  sent  I'rouirhlon,  one  of  his  offi- 
'  cers,  to  explore  the  river  Coliunbia,  he  says: 
'  '  i'roni:;litoii  Imd  for  his  iruidnnce  thus  far  up  the 
'  inlet  a  chart  by  Mr.  (xray,  who  h.-d  ■Hon,man<led 
'  till'  .'Xinerican  ship  (.'olumbia.'  In  the  same  place 
'  he  uses  the  name  of  Point  Adams.  !i[iplied  by 
•Gray."— (Foi.  it.,  p.  r-,'A.) 

Mr.  I'uclianan.  in  his  lett(T  of  the  !!()i!i  Auy^ust 
las!.  Ill  ilie  IJriiish  .Minister,  (.Mr.  P.aketdiam,)  and 
at  the  cl(is(;  of  his  able  and  umuisweralle  arj'iuneut 
in  fiivorof  our  titl<:  to  the  whole  f)fOrf  1:011,  savs: 

"  \^rn\\  the  whole:   l'"rom  t!ie  most  ca.reful  and 

■  amph'  exaniination   which   ihe  iinihrsiLMied   has 

■  lii'en  able  to  bestow  upon  the  subject,  he  is  s:iiis- 
'  li((l  that  the  Spani.sh  Annricin  titli   now  held  by 

the  United  States,  embrac.ini^  the  wliole  territory 
'  lictweci:  the  j)ara.llels  of  A'i  deijives  and  ,'')4  cleinTcs 


'  40  minute.-,  is  th'^  'e-t  tii'e  in  e\i-fence  to  thi.'^ 
'  ei  tire  re.irion;  and  that  the  claim  of  Gre.it  P.ritain 
'  I"  ■my  |iortioii  of  it  has  no  s'.itTicieiit  foondation. 
'  l-lveii  Pritish  geoLcraphers  liave  not  iloubied  our 
'  title  to  the  If  rrilory  m  dispiKe.  There  is  a  lar!;o 
'and  spli  ndid  L'lobe  now  in  the  1  iep;\rtmeiit  of 
'State,  n  cin'ly  received  from  1  oiulon,  and  jiiib- 
'  lished  by  .Midby  &  Co.,  '  m.alnifactuiers  and  pub- 
'  lishers  to  the  Society  foi-  the  fliirusion  of  I'seful 
'  KnowledL^e.'  whie-h  assj-ns  this  territm-y  to  the 
'  Cnited  Stat,  s." 

HaviuL'  said  tluis  much,  ^Tr.  Chairman,  in  sup- 
port of  e.nr  title  to  ilie  v.liole  of  Ore^-oii,  |  shall  take 
occasion  to  call  the  attention  of  the  c(Mmnittec  to 
tlie  opini(ms  (if  maiiv  distino'uished  Senators  at  the 
third  session  oflhe''27th  Comrress,  on  the  bill  in- 
troducdl  by  one  (if  the  then  (iistin;ruis!ied  Senators 
from  Missouri— now  no  more — [Dr.  Linn,]  "  to 
'  authorize  tiie  aihiption  of  nn-asures  for  the  occii- 
'  pation  ;uid  .settlement  id' the  territory  of  Oregon, 
'  for  exfendinu'  cirt.vin  jiortioiis  of  the  lav.s  of  the 
'  United  States  over  the  same,  and  fin- other  purpo- 
♦s(^s."  The  occupation  and  settlement  of  thcOre- 
iron  territory  liy  our  Government  was  a  t'lvririte. 
measure  of  "the  able  and  ttdented  Senator  Linn:  and 
he  labored  duriiii,^  his  brilliant  senatorial  career 
with  a  zeal  and  an  ardor  d(  servinir  more  fivvorable 
results  than  he  lived  to  see  iiccom|ilished.  Rut  hi.s 
name  will  loui:-  live  in  tlie  Lrrati  ful  rfunembranco 
of  every  patriotic  .^lnel•ican  for  thi>  bold  and  iioblo 
course  he  jniisiied  on  ih(>  Oreiron  ([uestion.  Tlio 
1  ill  of  Dr.  Linn  met  the  same  objection.s  we  now 
find  ur^ed  aiiainst  the  proposition  niuler  considera- 
tion— that  it  v/as  inexpedient  to  letrislate—that  it 
would  excite  the  indi'j:nation  of  Great  I'rit;iin,  and 
that  war  v.-ould  result:  whilst,  if  we  wmild  only 
cea.se  to  leais'ate,  and  '.ro  on  settlim:  the  country 
liuietly,  it  would  soon  fdl  into  our  hands.  Mr. 
Reiiton,  in  answer  t  a  some  of  the  oljectious  urcred 
apiinst  the  bill,  and  in  defence  (tf  our  title,  said: 
"  On  one  point  there  is  unanimity  on  this  floor, 
'and  that  is  as  to  the  title  to  the  country  in  que.s- 
'  lion.  All  airree  that  the  lit!e  is  in  the  United 
'States.  On  another  jioint  there  is  division:  and 
'  that  is,  on  the  point  of  irivinir  ofl'ence  to  Enu:lan(l 
'  by  oranliii'j;  the  land  to  our  settlers  whi'di  the  bill 
'  |iroposes:  on  this  point  we  divide.  Some  think 
'it  will  ort'end  her;  some  think  it  will  not.  For 
'  my  part,  I  think  she  will  t;ike  olfenee,  do  what 
'  we  mav  in  relation  tf>  this  territory.  She  wanta 
'  it  hers("lf,  and  meinsto  quarrel  for  it,  if  she  does 
'  not  fitrht  for  it.  I  think  she  will  take  olfenee  at 
'  our  liill,  and  even  at  our  discussion  of  it." 

Mr.  Reuton  further  said: 

"  I  maintain  that  the  passaixe  of  this  bill,  and 
'  tlKseirrants  to  tlie  s(>t!lfrs,ean  irive  no  just  ■iroiuul 
'  of  olfenee  to  Great  Rritain:  and  this  opinion  is  the 
'  v^'/itl-o-  deduction  from  the  unanimous  opinion  of 
'  this  Cham'u'r,  that  the  title  to  the  territory  is  in 
'  the  United  Stat(\s." 

In  conclusion,  Mr.  R'-nton  remarked: 

"  1  i^o  n"ir  for  vindicatiii'j:  our  rirhts  on  the  Co- 
'  lumbi.'i.  and,  as  the  first  step  towards  it.  passini^ 
'this  bill,  and  niakinLT  these  irrants  of  Land,  which 
'  will  soon  I'lace  thirty  or  fn-fy  thousand  rilles  bc- 
'  yond  the  Roclcy  mountains,  wlueli  will  l-e  our 
[  '  ('(Ve'-ti'.e  liei'cuia.tors." 

I       Unijland  will  (bid  fmit  Vv-iih  us,  fl>  wli.at  we  may 
—  inere'v  f ir  enlliug  in   (jue.s'ioii  the  British  riLiht 


/ 

I 


6 


to  tlip  trrriioi'y;  l,rt  I,fi!r  niu',  niii  not  tolip  ilotor- 
rcil  liy  any  su'Ii  (!t)n.^ii!!  nitinns.  1  i]<>  not  know 
Imt  \\v  ni.i)'  li,-uc  ti)  (i'jlit  for  diir  ri'ulils;  liut  no 
flrciid  of  siii;li  u  ( i;!it-.  .-i  shall  cvi  ,•  opuiMh;  t'l  i!(  icr 
1110  fV(nii  u  Ixilii  a.-'scrtion  uf  our  title  I  am  in  fa- 
vor of  lliii  nnssa'^c  of  a  liill  at  tlii.--  sission,  v.iili  a 
prciuiililc,  tli'larin;;  l!ic  title,  to  1)C  in  tin;  Fnitiil 
iStatcs.  That  tiilu  will  ln'  (UTtiulcd  anil  maintained. 
I  nin  ready  to  i;i\(.'  prc-emiiiion  ri.^lits  of  land  to 
settlers  in  On  t;iin.  Do  this,  and  hardy  anti  eiiter- 
jirisitii:  settlers  will  speedily  emi^nite  to  tin?  t.  rriio- 
ry,  and  will  jirov"  themselves  our  hest  negotiators. 
[  am  au'ainst  iirjrotii'ii.in  ;u  ti:li):  that  is  a  field  in 
whieh  (.'it::!  llriiain  has  always  ijeat<ii  us,  and 
always'  wiil. 

I  will  al.:o  '^^ive  the  coiuiiiittee'  an  extract  from  the 
Sjioeedi  on  the  sann'  hill  of  the  presejil  dist!n;j;uish- 
ed  Sccrdary  of  the  Treajury,  (Mr.  Wiilkcr.)  [hi 
•Siiiil : 

"  The  i|uesiion  now  was,  really,  whether  we  are 
'  to  assert  our  ri.:;iUs  in  rehuioii  to  this  territory,  or 
'  to  al  aiidoii  iIkiu;  whether  we  will  maintain  nur 
'  title,  or,  hy  oui'  own  iienleet,  sutler  it  to  he 
'placed  in  d.Hpit.  Now,  he  was  folly  prepiu'td  to 
'  Siiy  that  he  was  not  disposed  to  al-aiulon  one  inch 
'of  the.  t(  rritory  <laimed  iiy  this  country  on  the 
'  northwe.si  coast,  fr<nn  the  -l'2il  to  the  r)4ili  dei;reG 
'  of  northern  latitude.  To  the  whole  of  this  terri- 
'  tory  he  eons'dered  the  liile  of  the  I'nited  Slates 
'indefeasible,  and  we  should  not  ahandon  our 
'claim  to  one  inch  of  ii.  lie  Wiis  not  prepared  to 
'  ab;\ndon  our  title  lo  an  inch  of  tlic  territory,  on 
'  the  groi  )id  that  our  a:sertioii  of  it  would  lead  to 
'  war,  or  on  tuiy  other  i;round,  because  In?  eonsid- 
'  ered  that  title  iiulisput.dile  and  iiideu  asible.  lie 
'  believed  it  now  lo  be  the  duty  of  Con;;re.ss  to  as- 
'  sert  our  title;  to  declare  to  the  world  thai  we  will 
'  niiiintaiii  our  rights,  and  will  not  abandon  tlieni. 
'  If  Great  Britain  is  lo  take  ollencc  at  our  declara- 
'  lion  tliat  we  will  maintain  our  ri^litfii!  claim,  her 
'  doim,^  so  V  ,■'  '  '-e  no  ari^uincnt  to  him  that  we 
'  ou!^lil  to  y 

INIr.  Clia'  .  am  no  proph.:t,  nor  the  smi  of 

aprojihetjvi  li -w,  however,  heard  that  one  of  the 
family  name  has  ehiimed  to  be  one;)  I,  however, 
venture  to  predict  that,  it"  we  i  ver  iret  into  a  con- 
flict with  Great  Rrltaiil,  v.e  will  never  malic  peace 
so  lonij;  iis  that  Govennuent  continues  t^i  possess 
one  foot  of  lerritc'ry  on  this  continent. 

For  the  benefit  oi' my  whii;-  tViends,;uid  to  shov/ 
tliat  the  Oi'e'.con  fpiesiion  is  no  party  questimi,  I 
will  read  short  extra'^ls  from  the  speeidies  of  cer- 
tain distin:^'uislied  whii;  Senatiu's  during  the  pen- 
dency uf  Dr.  Linn's  bill. 

JNIr.  Crittenden  was    o'ppo.scd    lo  i!ie  '' pndin- 

'•  ]><tit  vUvj;,  (.'.1'  1,1  diJ,  Unit  our  ti'le  l;  contpli'tr  und 
'  unbliUi'.Jud,  lie  truald  nut  bhtlij  ll  hij  iniij  such  pru- 
'  C(  f  i/i/i:;'. " 

i\Ir.  Archer,  of  Vir.;iiua,  said: 

'•  Lie  hoped  the  .Senator  iVom  Missouri  under- 
'  stood  that  he  was  not  ( iiher  opposed  to  tlie  bill, 
'  or  to  the  inainlenance  of  our  ri:;-hls  whenever  iherc 
'  woiild  Ije  occasion  t.i  assert  them,  lie  only  ob- 
'  je^'ted  to  thf  ex.pi'dieii>  y  a. id  nr.'es.-;;ty  of  tlic  pre- 
'  amide  lo  the  bill." 

Mr.  Phelps,  of  Vermont.,  said: 

"As  a  meail)(;r  of  the  select  committee,  he 
'[.should  .say  iluil  he  did  not  cuir-'ider  the  preamble 


'  In  the  1  ill,  when  pressed  by  tlie  cl,ainii,in,  ver 


ints  <• 


lie  was  v.nnii'^^to  ret.iin  it,  on  tie 


nere 
"or  fe 


'  iniporliuit;  Ijui 

'  tjround  that  it  was  lleee.s^nry  lo  siiiisfy  tin:  pulli'  [fV,,, 

n 


'  innble,  he  tl)ouy;lil   it  better  thai   it  should   lie  n - 
'  tained,  than  that  any  doubt  should  be  created  b\ 
'  strikiiiL;  it  out."' 
All    the.s.    di 


minil.     Ent  iiou- that  the  subjict  had  b(  i  n  ih 
'  ball  ll,  and  a  nucslioii  put  on  sirikin;;'  out  tin  I'l'  -  [|    i 

•.\crt 
-hose 

■lie.  •       I    •  I    I'CP"' 

stiiiLiiuslied   tef.nators  nmied   in  ad-    Vj  i 
miiiini;- that  our  title  was  clear  and   indi.-jiuiabh  ;  ^f  ji„ 
tl:(;y  were,   howcM  r,  oiijiosed    to  the  piiiimble  o|  n»    p 
Dr.  Linn's  bill,  chii  tly  becaiuse  they  ftared  that  it- (J,  ^^ 
inseriii/ti  miuht,in  some  dei;-ree,  jirejudiee  our  liili  i3J;(,i| 
by   seiniiii'4-   to  expi'e.-s  a  (loubi  on   the    ^idijea.  ^qj^,', 
WheiRvir  our   title  conies   lo  be  I'ully  examined  .  ^j  .^^ 
all  doubt   oil    the   subject  must  cmne  to  an   end  ^q  j, 
Senator  Linn's  bill  |r,.ss<'d   the  Senate  by  ;i  ^''yiunib 
lar^'e    inajori'y.      This  fact,   and    the    ai.;nnien;.- j^y,,.^, 
urii-ed   in  its  fivor,  are  deserving,'  of  some  eoiisid   pQ,.|j. 
eratioii.     [  will  relVr  to  the  eiiiineiit  Senator  iVom  [ipi,,;. 
South   Caii.lina,    [Mr.  Calhoun,]  who  made    an  „^^.^. 
(leiqnenl  s|iee(  ll   ill  opposition   to  the  bill,  beeaiisi  JjQy,, 
he  deemed    it   impolitic  to    ur^e  our  edaims   tin  J    |p/|„/, 
Mr.  Calhoun  said  that   our  title  was  so  g-ood  that  Y^rJl|,! 
it  .stood  ill  no  need  of  a  lidslij  as.sertioii  of  it.     He  j^yirm 
<'iin(duded  by  sayin:;'  that,  if  the  bill  were  to  pass,  ■^^'^,  ^ 
notice    to  (ileal    i)iilaiii   ouy;ht   first   to   b(;  i;iven    ^y^^ 
While  I    lo  not   by  any  nieaiis  approve  all   the  jimn. 
cour.se  of  that  distinjjjuished  Senator  mi  this  ipies-  p^,,^, 
tion,  I  tru.st  that  he  will  yet  be   found  (iomin-  i  ■  Ljke 
l!ie  rescue,  wliiUever  maybe   the   linai  thtermiiia    Tj^y~^ 
lion  of  Co!i:;ress.  wan 

I  iniu;ht  here  induiuc  in  some  comments  on  th-.  q^,,.  , 
course  pursued  by  ceiiain  u'enili  men  ed'tia'Souih  ii,  ^^.  , 
this  debate;  but  it  is  not  my  intention  to  (ditu-yi  j^ 
members  from  the  Sinilh  or  J\'vrtli,  who  see  fit  to  ty,ii|' 
opjiose  this  notice,  wiili  ;i  want  (d"  patriotism  orde-  gp^l 
votioii  to  what  lluij  deem  the  best  interest  ot'  tlu  \jx\A 
country.  We  have  had  too  ininy  prools,  assiim  \yQ  (\ 
mg  tlie  substiintixi.'  forms  of  noble  and  :,'eneron.-  g^,,, 
deeds,  of  that  devotion  to  the  interests  of  ilie  who' 
Union,  to  allow  us  to  doubt  their  patriotism.    A 


ml 
v/hauver  course  these  ;;eiitlenien  may  lake  liirr,  1 
have  full  confidence  that,  if  war  shall  come,  they 
will  not  stop  tluji  to  iiKpiirc  the  cause,  but  will  bi 
found  ill  the  front  rank,  defending;  the  r;;j,lits  and 
the  hoiior  of  oiir  eoiiiimm  coiuitry.  I  have  inon 
charily  for  the  honesty  of  those  who  diirerfrom  im 
in  oniniou  than  some  i;entlemen  seem  to  po.ssess;  I 
believt'  men  may  honestly  ditl'er  cm  ijreat  (pies- 
tions.  Cut  members  from  the  West  have  becii 
charged  u  ith  the  design  of  niadlv  driviiiic  t!ie  coun- 
try into  a  war  wiili  Great  Britain  by  their  >'  west- 
ern furor,  i)ray;;^adocio,"'  lVc,  ill  pre.ssiiej;  the  ((las- 
tion  of  notice.  Is  it  to  be  characterized  as  v;ui. 
lKj(istin;j;  aiul  hrnii-ii'i'idrrio  to  assert  liere-  that  we  ar^ 
;ihle,  rciidy,  an.l  wiilinu'  to  det'eiid  our  ri^'hls,  botli 
in  )ieace  and  in  war.-  Wiieii  we  say  that  wi;  l)i.'iii.'\. 
and  trust  in  the  arguments  uilvaiiced  by  (jur  nego- 
tiators in  ndalioii  to  our  title  to  the  whole  of  Ore 
ijoii,  and  declare  our  determination  to  aid  in  carry- 
niii-  into  eflect  the  recommendations  of  the  I'resi- 
deiil  in  his  Annual  Messai^o,  are  we  to  be  told  i.ha' 
it  is  "  uemauoo-uism.-"  I  wish  to  avoid  w;u-,  it'  v, < 
can  do  so  wiilioul  emiiju-oinisinu;  our  rii;'his  or  oi,. 
honor;  but  sooner  than  wound  either,  1  say  i;ive  m 
war,  with  ail  ils  liorrm-s.  If  we  shrink  iVom  lie 
mainlemince  of  our  rii^hts,  iVom  an  ignoble  fear  o: 
war,  we   will   si.  iw  ourselves  luiwurlhy  descend 


igno 
sidei 
and' 
men 
tlem 
that 
and 
Do  I 
ad\  I 
tioii 
T 
lievi 
full' 
calli 
and 
trio 

thai 
ixis 
a\ 
we 

bly 

Ch 
sh( 
th.i 
afii 
tio 
pc( 


.'  ilie  rli;iirmaii,  vcr. 
:;■ '"  ni;iiii  it,  on  tii' 
K  i'>  •'^iiiisly  till!  jiul'li. 
iil:J<'t  lii'ul  Iji  1 11  (1, 

.-llikilii;-  nut  llir  pn- 
lliiil  it  .should  lir  n  ■ 
•^litiiikl  be  cruati  (i  1,\, 

lalor.s   iiiiiifd   ill  ,nl- 
u-  and   iiuli.s|ii(!,ii,|(  ; 
I'l   till'  prcaiiilili   III 
L-  ilii;y  I'l  ared  thai  i;.- 
c,  |irrjudi((.'  1)111-  till, 
uIh  (III   the   suhjci  t. 
■  hi'  t'lilly  examined, 
t  loiiiu   to  an   end 
II'  .Senate  by  a  vi  ly 
and    the   ar:;iinien;.-. 
niU'  (if  .some  eunsid 
iiiiient  ^I'lKitiir  iVuiii 
un,]   who  made    an 
n   to  the  hill,  hei  iiiisc 
u<-  our  I'laims   tlii.t 
h\i:  wa.s  .so  e'ood  thai 
(  as.-,ertii)ii  oi'  it.     Ill 
ih(  hill  were  to  jia.s.^, 
'il   first  to   be  i;i\en 
aii.s  aitprove  all   thi 
V'nalor  on  thi.s  (|iies- 
i'l;  found  coinim.;-  ti. 
tliiJ  Ji.ial  deteniiiiia 

lie  comineuts  on  tie 
dcinen  ortheSuiuh  ii, 
y  iiilention  to  ehar^'i 
A'urili,  who  see-  fit  tn 
il  of  patriotism  or  dr- 

be.st  iiiiere.st  of  tin 
many  proofs,  a.SMim 

noble  and  :;eneroii.- 
nlerests  of  the  whoh 
heir  jiatriotisni.  Ami 
neii  may  take  lurr,  I 
var  shall  eome,  they 
hi;  ciiuse,  but  will  b'l 
idini:,-  the  ri-hts  and 
iitry.     I   liave  mon 
c  who  difl'er  from  nu 
'11  seem  to  po.s.se.--s;  I 
tiller  on  ii;reat  (pies- 
he   We.st    have   beeii 
:liy  drivimr  the  coiin- 
tam  by  thi'ir  ■•  \\i,,s; 
in  pressioLC  tlie  qia  .s- 
harai:teri/cd  a.s  \;ui. 
L'rt  here  that  we  ar. 
end  our  ri:;lii.s,  butli 
e  .say  that  we  beiie\ 
vaiieed  by  our  nei;.i- 

0  the  whole  of  (h; 
itioii  to  aid  in  carry- 
atioiKs  of  the  Pre.si- 

re  we  to  be  tohl  l.li.'e 

1  to  avoid  w  ar,  it'  v. ' 
n'4'  our  rin'liis  or  oi.: 
eithei",  I  .say  i;-ive  m. 
Ae  jslinnk  from  tie 
n  an  i^-iioble  fear  <r 

•anwo;-ihy  de.sceii'J 


inls  of  (iiu  [I'ltrioi  latliers!  Did  lluy,  aliliougli  a 
nere  handful,  shrink  from  a.ssertiii'j;  their  ri;;lit.s, 
brfiar  of  iinurrin;;  the  di.-pleabure  of  England.- 
if  our  form  of  ijovermnrnt  eonfern  more  ble.ssin:,'^ 
ipon  mankind  tiuin  that  of  Great  IJritain,  surely 
ill  lover.<  of  fri'eilom,  all  idiilaiithropisis,  s^hould 
'Xert  their  whole  emr^ie.s  to  secure  ()re:,'oii,  that 
:hos»-  who  miialiil  it  may  enjoy  the  ideii.sing.s  of  a 
republii  an  iro\ernmeiit. 

In  li.steninf;'  to  thi'  iiiLjeniou.s  and  i  loniunt  spcich 
if  the  honorable  gentleman  i'mm  Kentueky,  [Mr, 
Q.  D.wis,)  I  was  almost  persuaded  thai  the  cam- 
tr}'  watered  by  Fra/er's  river  beloimcd  to  Gretit 
Britain.  The  honorable  ireiitlemiiii  from  Kentucky 
contended  with  ureal  /'.eal,  that  ihey  had  diseover- 
ed  and  .settled  that  eouniry,  and  had  as  good  a  title 
to  it  as  we  hid  tii  the  eountry  watered  by  tlu'  Co- 
lumbia riv(r;and  he  argueil  tlialit  would  be  a  gross 
outrage  now  to  attt  nipt  to  lake  jiossessioii  of  that 
portion  of  Oregon.  UiU  near  the  ejo.se  of  liie  geii- 
tleman'.s  speech,  he  contended  that  by  delaying  to 
give  the  notice,  and  iiy  going  on  and  settlinir  the 
couniry,  we  would,  in  time,  bo  able  to  take  llir 
wholi  up  to  .'il'-''  -10'.  A."^  soon  as  I  heard  that,  the 
whole  eirict  of  the  L^entleman's  able  ;i,id  in^cniou.s 
argument  e\aporiaed.  I  thought  such  a  jn'oceed- 
ing  unworthy  of  a  great  and  growing  country  like 
this.  We  ought  to  ai't  in  a  more  frank  and  manly 
manner.  We  should  come  out  like  men,  and  ex- 
pres.s  our  views  and  jturposes  without  di.sgui.se. 
Like  the  gentleman  from  Massachusetts,  [Mr. 
WiN'THHoi',]  [  am  not  fm-  the  " /ni-s/i  yie/ic;/,'"  I 
want  nothing  lilie  stage  ellei.t.  I  go  for  declaring- 
our  rights,  and  maintaining  them.  This  i.s  what 
the  people  expect  al  our  hands. 

It  seems  that  gentlemen  oji|iosed  to  the  notice 
think  that,  by  not  giving  notice,  we  can  go  on 
seuliii^  iuid  Improving  the  country,  and  that  Enu- 
laiiil  will  remain  passive;  and  that  thereiiy  wo  kIuUI 
be  the  irainers.  Thi.s  view  is  based  ujion  the  \nK- 
suminion  tlmt  the  liritish  Government  is  at  once 
ignorani,  stujiid,  and  imbecile.  If  England  con- 
sider.s  iier  claim  to  a  noriioa  of  the  country  just, 
and  worth  retaining,  iloes  any  one  believe  for  a  mo- 
ment that  she  will  remain  inactive.'  Can  any  gen- 
tleman point  me  to  the  time,  or  to  the  |)lace,  when 
that  Government  did  not  put  forth  all  her  power 
and  energies  to  aci|uire  and  to  secure  territory? 
Do  they  suppose  that  the  En::li.-h  Ministry  are  not 
advised  of  all  we  say  and  ot'all  we  do  on  this 
tion  .- 

The  irreat  majority  of  the  American  peojile  be- 
lieve that  the  whole  of  the  Oregon  territory  right- 
fully belongs  to  us;  that  it  is  our.s;  and  that  we  are 
called  upon  by  every  consideration  of  patriotism 
and  love  oflVeedoni — by  the  duty  we  owe  our  pa- 
triot fathers — to  come  up  iiov.-,  buidly  and  manful- 
Iv.anil  declare  thi.s  fad  to  ilie  civilised  world — 
that  we  intend  to  terminate  the  treaty  of  tith  Au- 

fiist,  1«:27,  and  that  alter  the  twi:'ve  nioiuh.s  sliall 
ave  elap.sed  from  the  time  of  giving  this  notice, 
we  will  take  possession  of  our  territory,  ''  pcua- 
bjy  if  we   i\m,  forcLly  if  we  must."     Tliis,  Mr. 


s  ([ue.- 


>!, 


ChainiiLUi,  1  believe  to  be  our  duty,  and  noiliing 
short  of  thi.s  will  s.ilisfy  the  I'ouiitry  ;  nothing  h  ,ss 
limn  this  will  redeem  us  in  the  eyc-i  of  the  v.-orld, 


iliis  great  (iue.-,tion,  where  is  the  beni  tit  of  our 
ileiiiocratic.  or  renublnan  form  of  iiovermneni - 
llow  is  it  better  than  a  monarchy.'  Where  i.s  our 
boasted  freedom.'  Where  is  the  popiil.ir  will  ol 
the  masses.-  And  echo  will  tinswi  r — ••Where?" 
Gone,  sir;  ;;;oiieI  abused!  viokued  I  irampled  upon'. 
For  myself,  I  have  listened  attentively  to  ihi'  ,ii- 
gumeiits  of  the  gentlenuai  v,  ho  are  in  fa\or  of  de- 
lay, and  opposcil  to  giving  the  notice  now;  and,  so-, 
for  the  lit'e  of  me,  i  ciiimot  see  the  truth  of  their 
eonclusion.s.  If  giving  the  notice  to  England  is 
cause  of  war  jioir,  it  will  be  cause  of  war  if  given 
next  year,  or  at  any  future  time.  If  England  in- 
tends to  hold  on  to  any  portion  of  that  territory, 
and  lu  J'fj^ht  for  il,  it  matters  not  when  we  attempt 
to  dispossess  them,  war  will  be  the  result.  Itmtiy 
be  true,  that  for  the  last  two  yi'ars  we  have  been 
inereasinij;  our  population  in  Oregon  taster  than 
Great  Hritain  has;  but  such  will  not  Ije  the  result 
ill  time  to  eome,  unless  we  adopt  decided  and  en- 
ergetic measures  to  take  and  to  hold  |)ossession  of 
the  country.  Whilst  we  are  willing  to  negotiate, 
Eimland  lias  no  fears  of  results.  81ie  knows  t"ull 
well  that  she  can  oul-negoiiate  us.  Take,  for  ex- 
ample, the  noriheast  boundary.  Dut,  sir,  when 
they  see  that  we  claim  ti  e  whole  country,  and 
come  to  believe  that  we  intend  at  any  tuture  tinu- 
to  takt;  possession  of  it,  they  will  teach  us  that  we 
have  gamed  nothing  by  delay  . 

The  rre.-:ident  recommends  giving  the  notin  -. 
and  after  iilluding  to  the  three  unsuccessful  tUtempi- 
ihat  luid  lieeii  nuule  ijy  the  two  Governments,  in 
1^1^,  lr<:21,  and  1^-Jti,  to  settle  this  question  by 
comproinisi',  he  proceeds  to  .state: 

"  When  1  came  into  olfice,  1  found  this  lo  be  tin 
'  sttiteofthe  negotiation.  Tliough  entertaining  the 
'  settled  conviction  that  the  Britisli  pretensions  of 
'  title  ciaild  not  l)e  maintained  to  any  jiortion  of 
'  the  Oregon  territory  upon  my  principle  of  jiublic 
'  law  recognised  by  iiation.s,  yet,  in  deference  to  what 

•  luul  been  done  by  my  in-eilecessors,and  especially 
'  in  consideration  that  jiropusition.s  of  cmn-proiuise 
'  had  been  thrice  made  by  two  preceding  Adminis- 
'  trations  to  adjust  the  liuestioii  on  the  parallel  of 
'  forty-nine  degrees,  and  in  two  of  them  yieldin.; 
'  to  Great  Britain  the  free  navigation  of  the  Coluni- 
'  bia,  and  that  the  jiending  negotiations  had  been 
'  cominenced  on  the  liasis  of  ciniiiiromise,  I  deemed 
'  it  to  be  my  duly  not  abruptly  to  bi'eak  it  olV.  In 
'  consideration,  too.  that,  under  the  conventions  of 
"  lal^  and  IdxiT,  the  citizens  and  subjects  of  the 
'  two  Powers  \w\d  a  joint  occupancy  of  the  coun- 
'  try,  I  was  induced  to  make  another  cflort  to  settle 
'  tliis  lonir-pending  controver.->y  in  the  spirit  of  mod- 
'  I'ration  which  had  uiven  birth  to  the  renc'wed  dis- 
'  (Mission.  A  proiiosition  was  accordingly  made, 
'  which  wi'sreje'ctiil  by  the  Bi'itish  rienip.)tentiary. 
'  who,  wit'ioui  subniiitinu-  any  other  proiiosition, 
'  sullered  the  negotiaiion  on  fiis  pan  lo  droji,  ex- 
'  pressing  his  trust  that  the  United  States  would 

•  ofier  what  he  .saw  fit  to  call  'some  further  [irojio- 

•  sal  for  the  .settlement  of  the  Oregon  (|ueslion, 
'  more  consisient  with  fairness  tuul  equity,  and  with 
'  the  reasonable  expectations  of  the  Ih'iiish  Gi 


'  eminent.''     The  proposition  thus  oflered  and  re- 
•jected   repeated  the  otler  of  the  par.illel  of  forty- 
after  the  declarations  we  have  se'nl  abroad,  in  rela-  !  '  nine  degrees  of  north   latitude,  wliioh   had   been 

lUiuln   by  two    preceding    Administrations,   hut 
v,-ith(.ut  jirojiosing  to  siu'render  to  Great  Brit.iin 


tion  lo  our  claims  to  this  country.    Ifihe  will  of  the 
people  IS  to  be  disregarded  hi  the  adit'.stment  of 


/ 


8 


*  ,Ta  thoy  Imil  dorif.  tlio  free  iiavipuion  of  t]\o  f'n- 
'  liimliia  rivfr.  Tlir  rijlit  of  any  fKri^iirn  Pnwf-r  to 
'  the  free  imviirntion  of  juiy  of  our  rivers,  llir(iii;,'li 
'  ihr  hi  art  of  <>\\r  fnuntry,  wa-!  'in<!  wliii'li  I  was 
'  iiiiwilliiiL''  to  foiirfilc.  I;  also  ciiilira'-f-'d  a  provis- 
'  ion  to  luak'' frf  (  toCJi-tal  fJritain  any  port  or  ports 

•  on  tlir  capo  of  Quadra  and  Vani'oiiver's  Island, 
'  south  of  this  parallel.  Had  this  lienn  a  nrwfjiics- 
'  tion,  cominir  under  diseussion  f(U'  tlic  first  time, 

*  t}iis  [iroposition  w  oiild  not  have  lieen  niadi'.  The 
'  eKtram-dinary  and  v.liolly  inaiiniissilde  demands 
'  of  tho  British  ftovrrnnient,  and  the  rejertion  of 
'  the  proposition  uiaih'  in  deference  alone  to  what 
'  had  lieen  done  by  niy  predecessors,  and  tlie  iin- 
'  plied  ohiiiration  wliicli  their  arts  seemed  to  im- 
'  pose,  afford  satisfaciory  evidence  that  no  eompro- 
'  niise  which  the  Ignited  States  ought  to  arcopt  can 
'  !)e  effected.  With  thisconviction,  tlie  proposition 
'  of  roniproinisc  which  had  been  made  and  rcjeci- 
'  ed,  was,  liy  my  direciirm,  snhsef|ueinly  with- 
'  drawn,  and  our  title  to  the  whole  Ore'j'on  tfrrito- 
'  ry  asserted;  and,  tis  is  Ixlieved,  u\aintained  hy 
'  irrefra2;aljle  facts  and  ariruiuents. 

"The  rivilized  world  will  s(C  in  these  pro- 
'  recdinijs  a  spirit  of  liljcral  conrcssion  on  'he  part 
'  of  the  Ignited  States;  and  this  Government  will  be 
'  relieved  from  all  respon.siliility  which  may  follow 
'  the  failure  to  settle  the  controversy. 

"All  attempts  at  compromise  havinp:  failed,  it 
'  becomes  the  duty  of  Coni^rtss  to  consider  what 
'  measures  it  may  lie  proper  to  adopt  for  the  secu- 
'  rity  and  protection  of  oiu- citizens  nowinhabitini,% 
'  or  who  may  hereafter  iidial)it,Orefron,and  for  the 
'  maintenance  of  our  Just  title  to  that  territory.  In 
'  adoptin:^  measures  tor  this  purpose,  care  should 

•  l;c  taken  tiiat  nothing  be  thnic  t'l  violate  the  stijiu- 
'  lations  of  the  convention  of  IH-IT,  which  is  still 
'  in  force.  The  faith  of  treaties,  in  their  letter  and 
'spirit,  has  ever  been,  and,  I  trust,  will  ever  be, 
'  scrupulously  observed  l)y  the  United  Stater-.  Un- 
'  dor  that  convention,  a  year's  notice  is  recjuired  to 
'  be  given  by  either  party  to  the  other,  before  the 
'  joint  occujiancy  shall  tirminate,  ami  before  either 
'  can  rightfully  assert  or  exercise  exclusive  Jnrisdic- 
'  tion  over  any  jiortioii  of  the  territory.  This  notice 
'  it  woiild,  in  my  judu-ment,  be  ju-opei  to  give  ;  and 
'  I  recommend  that  ]>rovision  be  made  by  law  for 
'giving  it  accordingly,  and  terminating  in  thi.s 
'  manner,  the  convention  of  the  sixth  of  August, 
'  1S27. 

"  It  will  become  prf)per  f(ir  Conirress  to  deler- 
'  mine  what  leirislation  they  can  in  the  nu'antime 
'•  adopt  wiilifuit  violating  this  convention.  I>ey(uul 
'  all  ([uestion,  the  protection  of  our  laws  and  otir 
'jurisdii'tion,  civil  and  criminal,  ought  to  be  im- 
'  mediately  extendi  d  over  our  citizens  in  Oregon. 
'  They  liavc  had  just  cause  to  comidain  of  our  long 
'  neglect  in  this  particular,  and  have,  in  conse- 
'  (juence,  been  compelled,  for  their  own  security 
'  and  protection,  to  establish  a  provisional  L'overn- 
'  ment  for  themselves.  Strong  in  their  alh  L'^iance 
'  and  ardent  in  tlieir  attachments  to  the  United 
'  States,  they  have  been  thus  cast  upon  their  own 
'  resources.  They  are  anximis  that  our  laws 
'  should  be  extended  over  them,  and  I  recommend 
'  that  this  be  done  by  Ci>nc:ress  with  as  little  delay 
'  a.s  possible,  in  the  full  extent  to  which  the  Hrit- 
■  ish  Parliament  I'.ave  proceeded  in  regard  to  Hrit- 
'  ish  snbjei'ts  in  that  territory,  by  their  act  of  July 


'  '2,  1^21,  for  regulatine  the  fur  trade,  and  fstiib 
'  iishiiig  a  criminal  and  civil  jurisdiction  witlui 
'  certain  [laris  of  Xm-th  Anierieu." 

Whilst,  Mr.  Chairnian,  I  do  not  consiih^-  this 
jiarty  rpicstion,  but  a  gi-cat  .Aimrican  rpiisiion,! 
am  free  to  confi  ss  tluU  I  do  not  like  to  see  a  .siii^'l' 
Democrat  a'.:;ainst  giving  tlie  notice,  and  at  the  ex 
(liration  of  twelve  months,  taking  possessioii  of  tie 
country;  for,  disguise  it  a.s  you  will,  all  who  op 
pose  these  measures  will  be  tiromuinced  by  tie 
people  to  be  mi  the  British  side  of  the  (|uesiioii 
.\n(i  while  I  wmild  urge-  u]iiui  the  Whig  side  oi 
this  Ilall,  by  tlie  cmisiderations  of  patriotism  and 
love  of  liberty  which  slunild  actuate  every  Ameri- 
can freeman,  to  go  for  extendinir  the  area  of  free- 
dom over  the  whole  of  Oregon,  1  feel  that  all  these 
considerations  must  operate  with  irreater  force  upon 
the  Demoi'rniic  portion  of  the  House.  The  De 
inocracy  |:elievc  that  tlie  people  have  virtue  and 
intelliu:encc  enough  to  govern  themselves,  and  that 
the  Representative  of  tlie,peoplc  is  bound  to  obey 
their  will  or  resign. 

Now,  Mr.  Ciiairman,  I  am  convinced  that  Mr. 
Polk  owes  his  elevation  to  the  distinguished  station 
he  now  so  hmiorably  fills  more  to  his  opinions  on 
the  Ti^xas  and  Oreixon  questions  than  to  all  other 
considerations  united.  And,  sir,  in  his  election,  I 
considi  r  that  the  people  decided  both  these  great 
(|uestions  in  the  affirmative.  What  were  Mr. 
P(dk's  views  in  relation  to  Oregon?  Let  an  ex- 
tract from  his  letter  of  the  23d  April,  li-i-14,  written 
from  Columbia,  Tennessee,  answer.     lie  says: 

"  Let  the  fixed  policy  of  our  Government  be,  not 
'  to  permit  Great  Britain  or  any  other  foreign  Power 
♦  to  jilaiU  a  colony  or  to  hold  dominion  over  any 
'  portion  of  the  people  or  ti'rritory  of  the  United 
'  Slates." 

The  President,  in  his  Inaugural  Address,  r-ays: 

"  Nor  will  it  become  in  a  less  degree  my  duty  to 
'assert  and  H!«/)i/rtni,  by  all  cmistitiitional  means. 
'  the  right  of  the  United  States  to  that  portion  of 
'  our  territory  which  lies  bcymid  the  Rocky  moun- 
'  tains.  Our  title  to  the  country  of  the  Oregon  is 
''cliof  and  uniiucsliouahli ;'  and  already  are  our 
'  people  peparinn-  to  perfect  that  title  by  oci'Upyinj,' 
'  it,  with  their  wives  and  children."  *  *  *  "To 
'  us  belong.s  the  duty  of  jirotccting  them  adequately 
'  wherever  th.ey  may  lie  upon  our  soil." 

But,  Mr.  Chairman,  we  are  asked  why  this  "hot 
haste?"  They  urge  us  to  let  thinirs  remain  as  they 
(in — to  "bide  our  time" — and  we  will  get  the 
wliole  of  Oregon.  In  answer,  I  have  only  to  say, 
that  those  who  believe  in  the  right  of  instruction 
have  no  discretion  in  this  matter.  The  sovereign 
people  are  calling  upon  their  puljlic  servants  to 
.settle  this  vexed  question,  by  giving  notice  to  Great 
Britain  of  our  intention  to  terminate  the  conven- 
tion of  August  0,  1827,  and  to  take  active  and  en- 
erirclic,  measures  to  in-otect  our  citizens  and  tn 
secure  the  territory.  And  if  war  result.s  from  this 
course,  on  wlunn  does  the  calamity  f  dl .-  Is  it  no- 
on the  people.-  Who  fight  the  battles  of  our  coun- 
try .=  Who  defeiul  the"  national  hmior?  Whose 
blood  ami  whose  treasure  have  been  poured  on' 
like  water,  in  times  past,  to  defend  the  nation  against 
the  a'j-u'ressions  of  jiroud  and  haughty  luigland  : 
.\n(i  whose  will  again  be  poured  out,  in  the  even', 
'of  war?  The  people's:  yes,  the  thousand.^?  whe 
'  re.nain  at  home  in  time  of  peace,  ciuiotly  and  in- 


9 


I 


ui-  trailc,  nnd  catiili 
juri.silictioii   witliii 
rii." 

imt  consider  llii.s  . 

MHrricaii  qiKsiioii,  I 

'I  like  to  see  a  siimlr 

Jitife,  and  at  ilio  r  x 

ill!,'  |>nssrssii,(,  (if  t||. 

Ml  will,  all    wli.t   o|, 

I'liiiipmu'i'd   liy  til. 

'  of  th(^  f|iif'stii)ri 

I    the  Wliii;  side   ot 

ii«  of  patriotism  and 

iMuati.'  every  Anieri- 

iir  (lie  ana  of  free- 

I  r.;(  I  thar  all  tlie.-( 

li  'jrealcr  foree  upon 

House.     'J'he  D,. 

lie  havi:  virtue  and 

tii'iiiselves,  and  thai 

le  is  Ijound  to  obey 


eonvineed   iliat  ]\fr 

distiimuished  statioi, 

vt;  to  his  opinions  on 

>tis  tliiui   to  all  other 

sir,  in  his  election,  I 

h-'d  hotii   these  great 

What    were    ]\f r. 

're-nn?     L(..t  an  ex- 

'\pril,  1>^-}},  written 

iiswer.     He  says: 

rCiovernnient  he,  im; 

y  other  fon.'iirn  Power 

I  dnniinidn  over  any 

ritory  of  the  United 

rural  Address,  says: 
ss  decree  my  duty  tu 
:'(mstitiitional  means, 
es  to  that  portion  of 
nd  the  Roeky  moun- 
!ry  of  t)ie  Orei^on  is 
ind  already  arc  our 
at  title  by  oceupyin^ 
CM."  *  *  *  <<To 
ling-  them  adequately 
our  soil." 

asked  why  tliis  "/to/ 
hincrs  remain  as  they 
!id  we    will    i^et  thr 
,  I  have  only  to  .say. 
right  of  instruction 
ter.     The  sovereign 
public  servants   tn 
iving  notice  to  Great 
•minate  the  conven- 
take  active  and  eii- 
lur  citizens  and  tn 
var  results  from  this 
mityfall?     Is  it  no- 
battles  of  our coun- 
al  Iionor?     Whose 
■e  been  jioured  oi;'. 
id  the  nation  against 
haughty   luigland  : 
■d  out,  in  the  even: 
the  thousands  whi 
.CO,  quietly  and  in- 


dnstrmusly  tilling  the  sod  and  imp.roving  the  eoun- 
ii-y, — It  i..j'ihis  class  upim  wlmni  all  this  irreat  re- 
sp.nisibiliiy  and  calamity  (if  such  shall  residt)  will 
fall.  .And,  sir,  are  they  not  to  have  the  poor  priv- 
ilcLTc  nf  (JirectinLT  their  public  servants  what  !>■  ilo 
m  this  luaitcr-  I,  sir,  nm  one  of  tlmse  wiio  bt  lieve 
that  the  ".-irher  .s4-cnnil  thou'jiit  of  the  people"  is 
selilom  wnmu'':  and  I  firmly  believe  thiit  tliree- 
fdurihs  iif  the  pecipli^  of  this  nation,  it'  they  cduld 
Vote  on  the  resolution  now  under  <'onsideration, 
wnulil  be  found  Voting  in  lhr>atllrinative. 

J  am  not,  sir,  for  ex'  nding  our  laws  overasin- 
irle  incii  of  territory  tluit  does  not  belong  to  tis; 
and  the  aliernativf;  of  war  would  not  deter  me  from 
going  to  the  V(M-y  last  incli  of  wiiat  is  rightfully 
our  own.  rientlemen  niay  call  this  deniaLromieisni 
— bravado — L'asconarii' — brairiradocio — and  what- 
ever else  ihey  may  think  beconiin'j'.  I  luu  respon- 
sible only  to  my  constituents  and  to  my  Gotl.  I 
believe  1  know  the  svill  of  tiiose  wiiom  I  represent, 
and  I  dar(' to  do  it,  come  what  may.  And  as  to 
Him  who  rules  the  destinies  of  nations  and  of  men, 
I  lalicve  that  He  is  on  our  side,  and  that  He  will 
bless  and  protect  us  as  He  has  done  in  days  that 
are  [last.  hlxperii'iice  was  the  best  liirht  in  whii'h 
to  look  at  the  fiUure.  in  all  the  wars  we  hav(^  thus 
far  lieeii  en^'aged  in.  He  lias  thrown  His  shield  of 
))rotection  over  us,  and  lib  ssed  our  arms  with  vic- 
tory, ,111(1  I  trust,  if  we  are  again  compelled  to  ha/,- 
ard  a  war  for  tlie  maintenance  of  our  ri^^hts  in  Or- 
egon, we  shall  aL'ain  experience  liie  same  happy 
result. 

Conllemen  all  contend  tliat  ours  is  one  of  the 
best  (Governments  on  earth.  Is  there,  then,  a  man 
who  enjoys  the  peace  and  privileges,  tln^  happv'se- 
oirity  and  freedom  which  distiniruish  the  inhabi- 
tants of  ibi.i  land,  who  is  not  willinir  to  risk  somt - 
thing  to  confer  the  same  ble.v.rings  on  the  thousands 
who  now.  and  the  millions  w  ho  will  lieienfier.  in- 
h.ibit  OrcLTon?  He  does  not  deserve  the  name 
of  an  Americiu)  citizen  if  he  would  not.  A  man 
so  selfish  and  so  dastardly,  ill  deserves  the  rich 
blessings  ho  enjoys. 

1  deprecate  all  idea  of  calliiiir  tlii.s  a  party  ques- 
tion. It  should  not  be  so  considered  or  so  treated. 
In  my  own  State  it  is  not  a  party  question.  Aly 
whii:  colleague,  m'Iio  represents  trulv  the  Wliiir 
population  of  the  wesn  rn  States  and  Territories, 
is  willing  to  i^o  as  far  for  f)reu'(ni  as  he  who  cfoes 
farthest.  He  goes  for  the  last  pebble  that  re- 
flects the  liu'lit  of  an  Oreiron  moon.  This  ."^hows 
what  th<^  fei  lings  of  the  great  West  are  im  this 
i|uestion. 

I  iniglit  adduce  still  stronger  proofs.  With  the 
political  party  v.-itli  whom  I  am  in  the  habit  of  act- 
ing, the  distinguished  e-eiitlernan  from  iVIassachu 
sens  has  not  heretofore  been  very  popular.  They 
consider  him  as  an  eminent  and  a  profound  siates- 
m:ui:  some  of  his  public  acts  they  apphuid,  but  there 
are  more  which  tliey  disapprove;  but  now  they  say, 
with  one  accord,  that  if  he  continues  liis  present 
I'ourse  in  relation  to  our  risrhts  in  Orecron,  his  life 
will  terminate  in  ablaze  of  glory.  With  them,  this 
is  a  (juesiion  which  overrides  a'l  others. 

It  has  been  .said,  however,  that  this  strong  feel- 
iiiL'  aliout  Oregon  is  assume,!   for  poliiicil  efleci, 
and  has  been  gotten  u]!  to  aid  the  fortunes  of  a  par- 
ticular candidate  for   the  Presidency;  in  a  word,  I 
that  the  Uregoii  question  is  neither  more  nor  less 


than  ;\  ;:re,u  qursiion  of  Presiiji  nt-makmg.  This 
is  not  the  fet  lui'^  in  the  region  from  which  I  coiik 
True,  in  the  West,  no  man  would  be  elected  a  cor- 
poral who  did  not  profess  to  go  tor  everv  inch  of 
(•reL'oii.  For  no  other  reason  is  this  fierm:;  cher- 
ished, tlian  from  a  deiermination  to  niainlain  our 
rights.  All  candidates  and  tin  ir  pretin.- ions  sink 
into  utter  insii;nificaiice  in  comparison. 

We  boast  of  beiiiu'  the  liillowers  of  Thom.as  .Tef. 
fersoii;  and,  as  such,  we  oiiLrhl  to  <:o  t'or  the  -reat- 
'  est  good  ot  the  greatest  mmdier.  So  hnig  as  tlw  re 
I  exists  a  doubt  in  our  minds  on  this  r|uestion.  let 
I  the  people  of  Oregon  iiave  thr'  beiu  fit  of  that  doubt. 
'  I  implore  ireiillemeii,  bj'  their  rei-ard  for  the  great 
priic'iples  cif  Democracy,  to  give  their  hearty  sup- 
i  piu't  to  this  tiaily  Democratic  measure. 
I  At  the  P.altiniore  conviiition,  resolutions  wire 
;  passed  imbodyin'_j  the  \iews  of  ila;  Deinocratii 
j  [larty  throughout  th<'  land. 

Tiie  f(dlowing  is  tin;  one  in  relation  'o  Oreiron: 

I  "/'t.se/rfi/.  That  our  title  to  the  whole  of  the  ter- 
i  '  ritory  of  Ore::oii  is  clearand  uii(pie.--tioiiable;  tiiat 

'  no  [lortioil  of  the  same  oilL,'ht  to  be  ceded  to  Ei.g- 

i  '  land  or  any  other  Power;  and  that  tin;  reoccupa 

'  tion  of  Oretron  and  the  reanm  xation  of  Texas  at 
!  '  the  earliest  [  articable  period,  are  great  .American 
[  '  measures,   w  hich   this  convention    recommend.s 

'to  (he  cordial  siqifiort  of  the  Democracy  ipf  tin, 
I  '  Union." 

I  This  resolution  met  the  hearty  response  ot'  tin, 
I  people  ill  ..11  f(uarters  of  the  L'liion.  I  could  cite 
I  tlie  eemuTiiiUc  to  hundreds  of  public  meetings  re- 
'  spondii  sr  to  the  nominations  made  ;it  Haliimore, 
!  and  tiie  i(;solutions  jiasseil  in  relation  to  (.tregon. 
'  I  will,  howi  \er,  refer  ooly  to  ihe  c:reat  latilication 

meetiiiix  in  the  city  of  New  York  iiiinujiliately  at'ier 

.VIr.  Polk's  nominatimi: 

,      "licaiilvrd,  That  tiie  title  of  the  United  States  to 

'  '  the  territory  of  Oregon  being  unquestionable,  wc 

'  hold   it  to  be  the  bounden  duty  of  our  Govern- 

\  '  iiuiit,  as  we  believe  it  to  be  tiie  semimrnt  of  tlie 

'  united  Democratic  piarty,  tli.it  this  territory  should 

[  '  be  preserved  entire  and  undividrd;  ih.-it  no  part  of 

'  '  it  should   be  sum  ndered  to  any  I'oreitrn  I'ower: 

'  '  and  that  early  and  eli'ectual  ]n'ovisioiis  should  be 

'  '  made  by  law  for  its  complete  occupation,  and  for 

'  '  tlie  |)rotection  and  security  of  our  citizens  now 

'  settled  in  and  emiirriiting  to  it." 

These  resoluiions  imbodied  ihe  \  lews  and  o[iin- 
ioiis  of  the'  great  mass  of  the  IDemocratic  jiarty. 
and  I  contend  should  have  some  influence  u[ion 
tlie  Democratic  portion  of  this  House.  I  venture 
to  say  there  is  not  a  man  on  tiiis  floor  wiio  has 
not  r("ceiv(  (I  numerous  letters  ap]n-oving  tlie  grouiu! 
taken  by  the  President,  in  his  Message,  on  the 
(Trcu^on  qiicstion.  From  those  who  are  on  the 
WIiIl''  side  in  polities,  this  aiiiirobation  could  not 
have  been  excited  by  the  Pr(;sident's  doctrine  re- 
speciing  tlie  sub-treasury  or  the  reduction  of  the 
t.irili".  To  what  is  this  owini:.-  It  cannot  be  de- 
nied tl-..t  it  is  owing  to  the  bold,  manly,  and  inde- 
pendnit  ground  taken  in  relation  to  the  Oregon 
qiiestieti.  Never,  sir,  iias  a  .Messaire  of  any  Chief 
Slauistrate  of  this  nation  since  the  formation  of  the 
Government  been  more  eiuhesiaslically  applauded 
and  apin-oved  than  has  theannu.il  Message  of  Mr. 
P  •■       "  ■      ■    ■  ■       '    ■ 


I  lieve  received  the  most  decided  testimony 
from  my  Whij  cor.stituents,  approving  this!  to  tlie 


/ 


10 


letter.  Surely,  then,  it  oughi.  to  liavc  some  biud- 
ma;  iiifluciiee  on  tlie  Democrats  in  this  House. 

Ill  re'j;;\rd  to  this  measure  of  notice  now  l)t;fore 
the  eomniittee,  I  presume  it  will  pass  in  some  form 
by  !i  lar,L;e  majoruy.  Gentlemen  doubtless  are  ae- 
tuated  by  diflVrcnt  motives:  some,  probably,  will 
vote  for  it  with  a  view  to  expedite  negoiiaiions; 
others,  because  the  abro^j^alion  of  ihc  convention 
will  remove  an  obstacle  tiiat  now  prevents  the 
adoption  of  important  measures  for  the  occupation 
of  Ore:;on.  Per  one,  I  should  prefer  that  those 
who  are  for  com]iromisi  m  at  lalitmle  41)^  would 
not  vote  for  the  notiei;  at  ;ul.  I  should  consider  it 
one  of  the  irrealest  calamities  should  the  boundary 
be  finally  fixed  at  that  line.  Before  I  close  my 
remarks,  I  shall  touch  on  this  subject  ay;ain. 

Miudi  has  been  said  about  our  sleepina;  on  our 
riL:;hts  for  thirty  years.  Because,  in  1818,  18i24, 
and  If'X,  jiroposilions  had  been  made  on  our  part 
to  scttl(!  the  controversy  by  ado|Hin2;  the  forty- 
ninth  degree,  gentlemen  siqipose  thai  we  are  bound 
to  abide  by  those  olFcrs  now.  But  the  circum- 
stances are  very  difTcreut  now  from  what  they  were 
thirty  years  ago.  The  value  of  the  country  was 
not  then  fully  known.  Lei  me  ask  gentlemen 
from  New  England  what  they  used  to  think  about 
Illinois,  and  other  western  States,  twenty  years 
since  ?  I>id  they  not  then  consider  it  a  far-oiV  coun- 
try, of  little  value,  and  inhabited  by  scmi-bar'ia- 
rians?  Aot  half  the  acts  of  barbarity  and  cruelty 
have  been  perpetrated  in  Texas  and  Oregon,  which 
were  charged  as  having  been  connnitted  in  the 
valley  of  the  r^Tississippi.  _  The  people  of  the  East 

,and  they  l)elievcd 


then  knew  nothing  of  the  West 
ihc  thousand  fiibtdous  tales  related  of  western  bar 
barity.  There  is  a  vast  dill'erence  now.  The 
value  of  tlic  Mississippi  valley  is  now  properly 
appreciated.  The  change  on  the  east  side  of  the 
mountains  is  not  greater  than  that  wliich  has  taken 
place,  to  the  west  of  them.  At  that  time  the  value 
of  Oregon  was  not  known,  its  advantages  were  not 
appreciated.  It  was  not  then  known  that  it  was 
possible  to  open  a  communication  by  land  from 
the  Atlantic,  to  the  shores  of  the  Pacific.  The  ne- 
gotial(n-son  our  side  were  willing:  to  part  with  that 
on  easy  terms  with  the  value  of  which  they  were 
not  ac(|uainted.  These  considerations,  whicli  were 
then  all-powerful,  do  not  ojierate  now.  Great 
Britain  rejected  these  oilers;  and  we  are  not  now 
bound  by  what  we  otVered  then. 

This  question  of  title  should  be  settled.  We  owe 
It  lo  otn- settlers  in  Ori;;(m,  and  to  those  who  are 
prejiariug  to  go  there.  Thousands  are  making- 
preparations  to  go  to  tha.t  eountrv,  with  tin'  full 
belief  that  it  is  ours  as  far  north'as  C)P  4(i',  and 
that  our  Government  will  as.scrt  and  maintain  that 
right.  Does  any  one  liebevc  that  many  of  those 
wlio  have  souv,  and  who  are  preparinii-  to  go, 
would  do  so,  if  they  sujiposed  that  the  ciuintry  ,  tory  speedily  woi 
was  to  be  divideil  between  our  Government  and 
Great  Britain r— the  one  Government  on  the  north 
side  of  the  (.'olunibia  river,  and  the  other  on  the 
south  side'  .Such  a  state  of  lliinus  would,  sooner 
or  later,  inevitably  lead  lo  diiliculties  and  disturb- 
ances wliich  would  end  in  a  war  lietwee'ii  the  two 
countries.  Then,  sir,  if  war  must  come  in  the  set- 
tlement of  this  ([uestion,  it  is  latter  that  it  come 
now  than  later. 

Mr.  Chiiirman,  I  am  o;>po-:ed  to  w.ir-.  1  depre- 


cate  it;  I  consider  it  as  a  relic  of  the  dark  ages 
Would  to  God  there  was  some  otlier  way  of  sei- 
tliiiir  the  disputes  of  nations.  But  this  is  the  man- 
ner in  which  we  are  sometimes  forced  lo  defend 
our  ri;.''hts.  \/hile  1  deprecate  war  as  an  enormous 
and  a  terrible  evil,  1  do  not  consider  it  the  greatest 
of  evils.  To  what  do  we  owe  our  present  system 
of  Government.'  IIow  has  our  repul)lic  attained 
to  its  present  magnitude  r  Is  it  not  the  result  ol 
war.'  Had  our  fathers  tamely  submitt(  d  to  the  ex- 
actions of  Great  Britain,  what  would  now  have 
been  our  condition .'  They  made  greater  sacrifices 
for  freedom  than  we  are  now  called  on  to  make  for 
Oregon.  For  liberty,  tliey  y)ledged  their  lives,  their 
fortunes,  and  their  sacred  honor.  All  was  jeoparded 
freely  for  liberty,  and  for  the  possession  of  a  com- 
iiaratively  steril  strip  of  land,  not  near  so  fertile  or 
valuable  as  Oregon. 

How  long  could  peace  be  maintained,  if  our  citi- 
zens were  to  settle  on  one  side  of  the  Columbia  and 
British  sulijects  on  the  other  .side .'  I  ask  gentle- 
men to  reflect  on  the  probable  conse(|uenc.es  of  such 
a  state  of  thintjs.  But,  in  reply,  I  hear  it  asked, 
how  have  we  maintained  peace  for  so  many  years 
on  the  Canada  frontier.'  There  is  no  parallel  be- 
tween the  two  cases.  The  one  country  is  hardly 
worth  )insse.ssing,  much  less  fighting  for;  and  yet 
how  often  have  the  most  ihreatening  diificulties 
arisen .'  And  how  will  it  be  in  Oregon  twenty  years 
hence,  when  its  population  will  consist  of  millions, 
instead  of  the  handful  of  peo]ile  who  are  sparsely 
scattered  throuiijh  it  now.'  Can  srentlenien  su))pose 
that  two  nations,  such  as  England  and  the  United 
States,  can  occupy  so  important  an  extent  of  coast, 
and  a  country  that  will  some  day  show  the  largest 
cities  in  the  world,  without  dantrer  of  collision  r 
Collisi(m  is  as  iiievitiil)leas  that  nii;-ht  follows  day. 
It  will  come:  the  spirit  of  our  people  will  lead  them 
rather  to  court  it.  Canada  will  one  day  come  into 
this  Union;  and  California,  in  time,  will  belong  to 
this  Government.  This  is  destined  t(i  be  an  "ocean- 
bound  republic."  Yet  I  would  not  sanction  tlu' 
takins:  of  any  stc'p  which  Is  not  perfectly  consistent 
with  the  observance  of  good  faith.  Bui  this  coun- 
try must  ccnne  to  us  in  the  very  nature  of  thiiiiis. 
All  I  ask  now  is,  that  Congress  shall  extend  our 
own  laws  over  our  own  territory — a  territory  whicii 
seven-eiiihths  of  the  peojile  believe  to  be  ours. 

We  have  heard  stated,  with  much  humor,  what 

constitutes  a  "  masterly  inactivity."   I  will  not  say 

that  all  who  are  ojiposed  to  this  notice  are  in  favor 

of  s)(f/i  a  "  masterly  inaclivily"  as  that  described 

with  so  much   force  and   efiTi'ct  by  the  honorabit 

I  uentleman  from  Ohio,  [Mr.  Stakkweatiii-.r:|  but 

I  I  will  say,  that  if  gentlemen  would  use  the  same 

I  mnsterhj'udh'ihi  in  defending  our  right  lo  Oregon 

!  as  is  manil'ested  in  obtaininu  the  floor  to  talk  about 

it,  the  battle  woulil  be  nobly  fcnight,  and  the  vie 

1.     A  corpm-al's  iiuard  of  British 

subjects  woiild   not  be  found  in  OreiiDii  after  the 

exi>iration  of  the  twelve  mmiths'  notice. 

I  will  hero  read  an  extract  fnnn  the  sjieech  ol' 
the  irentleman  from  Virginia.  [Mr.  Bavi.v.]  lie 
says: 

"The  British  attach  no  importance  lo  Oregon, 
'  except  fin-  the  purpo.sc  of  tarrying  on  the  fur- 
'  trade.     That  is  in  a  rapid  di-cline,  and  when  it 


■    11' 

are  ti 
turi'. 

Caiit; 

pcdit 
( 

'  men 

'hull 
'  milt 
'  and 
'  pea: 
'for 
«  a  1'. 

'  pie 

'  di;i 
'  con 
*plo 


'  disappears,  the  English  wi!!  di.-:aiipear  with  it  iii 


'  Oregon, 


11 


of  the  dark  a<jc-s 
other  way  ot'  hci- 
Biit  tliis  is  the  man- 
es forced  to  defend 
war  as  an  enorniou.v 
isidcr  it  the  irreatesi 
our  present  system 
r  repLil)lic  attained 
it  not  tiie  result  ot 
Uibmitied  to  the  ex- 
t  would  now  have 
de  greater  sacrifii'e.v; 
ailed  on  to  make  for 
'M  their  lives,  their 
All  was  jeoparded 
possession  Of  a  com- 
lot  near  so  fertile  or 

lintained.ifourciti- 
f  the  Colmiibia  and 
■^ider  I  ask  ijentle- 
'iiseiinencesof  such 
y,  I  iicar  it  asked. 

■  for  so  many  years 
•e  is  no  pandlel  be- 

eountry  is  hardly 
;htini;-  for;  and  y«'I 
ateninsT  dilHcultits 

h-c^nn  twenty  years 
consist  of  niiliioiis, 

e  who  are  sparsely 
irentlenien  supjios,. 

and  and  the  United 

■  an  extent  of  coast, 
ly  show  tlie  lara:esi 
aiiijer  of  collision  - 
t  niw'ht  follows  day. 
^'ople  will  lead  them 

1  one  day  come  intn 
time,  will  belon;,^  t.. 
led  to  be- an  "oceaii- 
d  not  sanction  the 
perfectly  consistent 
ill.     But  this  coun- 
ts nature  of  thiii;,^^, 
s  shall  extend  oui 
— a  territory  whieii 
ivc  to  be  ours, 
nuch  humor,  what 
ty."   I  will  not  say 

notice  are  in  favor 
'  as  that  described 

by  the  honorable 

UKWEATUKU;]    i)i|| 

add   u.'-e  the  sanii^ 
ir  riiiht  to  Orei^on 

floor  to  talkabimi 
ui^-ht,  and  the  vir- 
s  yimrd  of  British 

Oresi'oii  after  tin 
'  notice. 

om  \\u\  speech  oi' 
Ur.  Bavi.y.]     lie 

irtance  to  Orei^on, 
i;yinu:  on  the  fur- 
ine,  and  when  it 
■a|)pear  with  it  in 


■  FIc  is  mistaken  in  relation  to  this  matter.  They  ,  tion  to  asricultural  [itirsuits.  There  is  no  f|UCstioii 
are  Itirniii::  iheir  aK'iition  extensively  to  atriicul-  '  of  the  fact;  it  is  susceptible  ot'  pmof.  Captain 
ture,  I  hire  be"-  leave  to  irive  ill!  extract  from  MeXeil,  an  Amerieaii  speeulaior  i'l-nm  IJoston,  ti 
Cnpt.iin  AVilkes's  Narrative  of  the  blxplnrinu:  E\-  shrewd  and  enierprisiiii?  m:ui,lKi .  L.oiie  ihere,  and 
pcuilioH,  in  [)root' i>f  iliis  statement:  m  a  few  yi'ars  had  made  sad  inroads  nn  the  piotits 

"In  connexion  with  the  comjiany's  estaldisli-  of  theccnu|tany.  Whatwere  they  to  do  r  Unwilling; 
'  meat  at  Nistpially, they  haven  larije  dairy,  several  ;  to  apply  t)pen  force,  tiiey  Ixiimht  hini  out.  The 
'hiiiiilred  head  of  cattle,  luid  nmom;;  tiiem  .seventy  ,  facts  only  ijo  to  show  that  when  an  Ameriian  of 
'  nulcli  cows,  which  yield  a  lari^a-  stiji)ily  of  butter     talent  and  enterprise  i^oes  to  settle  in  that  country, 


'ami  chee.ve;  they  iiave  also  larire  crops  of  whetit, 
'peas,  and  oats,  and  win-  jirepariiii,^  the  i^round 
'  for  potatoes.     Thes<>  operations  nreeoiulueted  by 

*  a  fanner  and  dairyman  broiiijhl  I'i  mn  Eimland  ex-  , 
'pre.ssly  to  superintend   iliese  athurs.     A  few  [n-  ! 
'dicUis  are  emjaijed  in  attendiiii;  the  liocks,and  the 
'company's  servants  are  almost  (  xchisively  em- 

'  [iloyed  as  laiiorers.  j 

"  I  have  mcniioiied  these  a^ricultiu'al  establish-  . 
'  nienis  as  coimecti  d  with   the  iliidsoii  Fiay  T'cmi- 
'  pany,  and  they  are  in  I'eality  so;  iiui  as  their  char- 

•  ter  prc'ludes  the'ir  en2:ai;ii!u;  in  these  operations,  ; 
'another  company  has  Ikjcii  orirani/.ed,  under  the  ; 
'title  of  the  'I'nu^ei  Sound  ('ompany,' the  shares  ; 
'of  which  are  iield  by  thi;  ofHcers,  ai^ents,  and  i 
'  servants  of  the  Hudson  Day  Company,  and  its  ■ 
'  otlicii's  are  exclusively  chosen  from  anion:,'  them. 

'  Dr.  iMcLaui;hlin,  l'>r  instance,  chief  olHcer  and  : 
'governor  of  Fori  Vaiicimver,  on  the  jiart  of  the  ', 
'  Hudson  Day  ("ompaiiy,  is  also  a  director  of  llie  , 
'  Pu'i,et  Sound'  Company,  and  has  the  entire  man-  ■ 
'  ai'vment  of  its  concerns.  His  salary  is  fivt;  hun- 
'  (li  v(\  pounds.  ' 

"The  capital  of  the  Pu^-el  bound  Company  is 
'  five  hundred  thousand  pounds,  divided  into  shares 
'  of  one  Imndreil  pouiuls  each.  Only  two  hundred 
'thousand  pounds  ot'this  have  been  jiaid  in.  The 
'  oper.-itions  of  this  company  are,  in  ciuiseiiueiice, 
'  l.u■^■e.  'l'he\'  lieiian  liy  inaK'inn'  lar:;e  importations 
'  o|'  stork  from  < 'alif  irnia,  and  some  of  ilie  best 
'  iireeds  of  cattle  from  En;;land.  They  iiave  also 
'  <'ntered  into  farmini^  on  an  extensive  scale,  usin;:; 
'  as  laborers  the  servants  of  the  irudson  Day  Com- 
'|iany,  who  art!  bound  by  tlieii-  eontiacis  ti  do  all 
'  iiianiKr  of  service,  that  may  be  rerjuired  of  them, 
'  evi^n  to  the  Ijearin^-  of  arms. 

"I'his  company  have  the  supplyini::  of  all  the 
'  fats  and  .--tations  of  the  Hudson  Day  Company 
'on  the  west  side  of  the  American  coiitinent,  iiiid 
'a!s)  furnis!)  the  Russian  ports  with  ;,'rain,  i)utter, 
'ami  cheese;  of  tlie  forniiT  article  tin;  llussians 
'lake  about  fifieen  thousand  bushels.  It  is  also 
'their  int.  niion,  when  ihfy  shall  have  siuaceded 
'  in  breedim;  :',  snllirifni  ,sio('k  of  c  itlle  aial  sheep, 
'  to  exjim-i  liide^j,  horns,  t!dlow,and  wool,  to  I'ji:^-- 
•iM'.d.ni  the  return  ships,  whicii  now  ■•:<>  h()me 
'  eiiapar;uively  empty,  as  the  I'urs  occupy  only  a 
'  saiall  portion  of  the  capacity  of  the  ship.  In  tins 
'  way  it  uKi;  iie  readily  perceived  tl;::t  tliey  will  be 
'enabled  to  i'ri\e  a  profitable  trade,  particularly 
'  v.hen  il  is  i-oiislden  J  how  little  care  tlie  cattle  re- 
''H'ire  in  tlii^  territorv,  in  cinise(|i!ence  of  the  U'rass 
'and  naliiral  hay  wh'vU  the  soil  alfords  at  all  .sea- 


Ibe  pr 


ospec 


t  id'  the  aiUanlaLreous  re- 


•  sons.      It  Is 

'  sail-;   to  be  derived   from   ihe.a^   operations   that 

'  lias  indu^'eil  the  Hudson  Day  Comjiiuiy  lo  clian;;e 

'  iheii-  tradia.^  establishments  into  " 

'  ral  I  01  s." 

The  scrvaii's  of  'he  H 
abandoni.'iL'  t'.a;  t'lir  tradr 


on  Day  ( 
.  I  liu'iii,: 


oMipany  are 
;  their  a'teii- 


tliey  immediately  endeavor  to  enlist  him  in  ilieir 
servi<  e.  In  the  case  id'  JVlc,\eil  they  succeeded, 
and  he  is  now  .i  active  partner  in  that  company. 
Such  is  their  policy.  They  are  doin;:;all  they  can 
to  ijet  the  country  perinaiu  ntly  settled. 

To  illustrate  further  the  value  of  Oregon  for  ai,'- 
ricultural  and  other  purposes,  I  will  e;ive  a  few  ex- 
tracts t'rom  the  Journal  of  Ca|iUun  ypauldin;,%of  the 
sliij)  "  Lausanne,"  in  the  year  1>-4I.  In  spe  dxiiii; 
ot'  the  sitilemeiit  at  lAn't  VancouviM',  ;ind  ot'  Dr. 
McLanuhlin,ciiiel'a>;ent  of  the  Hudson  Day  Cum - 
jiany,  he  says : 

"The  Doctor  has  been  \i  ry  siicci  ssful  in  the  in- 
'  troduction  of  domestic  animals.  He  first  brought 
'  a  fev/  cattle  overland  from  Califmaiia,  and,  as  he 
'  seldom  has  ;my  slaughtered,  they  have  now  iii- 
'  creased  to  al>out  seven  thousand  in  seven  years. 

•  He  has  also  introduced  slieep,  .■•ome  of  which  are 
>  of  the  finest  species  of  the  iNIerino  and  Saxon 
'  breeds.  I  saw  a  Hock  of  one  thousand  at  V'an- 
'  couver,  the  linest  and  futest  I  think  I  ever  saw. 

•  He  has  about  two  thousand  at  Vaie'DUver,  and 

•  thinks  Oreijon  peculiarly  adapted  for  ^rowinu' 
'  wool.  He  iias  also  a  laiLre  uardeii  adjoinini,''  the 
'  tort  containiii'j;  about    fair  acres,  fillial  with    the 

•  choicest  fruits,  viz;  apples,  pears,  plums,  cherries, 

•  strawlierries,  ;;ooseberries,  currants,  Ac,  and 
'  vegetables  of  almost  evei'y  description." 

Spealcinu''  of  salmon  in  the  Cohimbia  river,  and 
all  its  Itranches,  he  says: 

"They  are  liu-rally  alive  uith  saliiiou  in  tin 
'  summer  months,  whicli  ascend  to  the  t'ountain 
'head.  The  1  (Mupany  take  about  niie  tliousand 
'  I'arn  Is  per  :,mnun,  ilirei  hundred  of  whieh  the 
'  Doctor  Liives  away  every  winter  to  keep  the  In- 
'  dians  alive. 

•' I  have  no  doubt  that  ten   thousand   barrels  of 

•  salmon  mi;;iit  be  taken  from  the  Columbia  and 
'  its  branches,  without  at  all  diminishing'  the  stock, 
'  iii'li'pendent  (if  what  is  reiiuind  for  the  support 
'  of  tiie  Indians.  Salmon  constitutes  their  princi- 
'  pal  food,  and  no  doubt  ten  tliousand  barrels  ari' 
'annually  taken  by  them.  lnd(  ed,  the,  whole 
'northwest  coast,  from  tiie  (Jolumlda  rivia' to  till 
'  de;^rees,  has  (,'very  river  and  brook  tluit  is  deep 
'  eiioui;ii  for  a  salmon  to  enter,  filled  in  the  summer 
'  si'ason.  A  gentleman,  whusi'  vc'racity  is  un- 
'  douiiied,  t(dd  me  that  In,'  has  seen  Prazer's  river, 

I  '  in  Dtiuct's  Sound,  for  miles,  so  filled  with  them. 

'  '  (the  water  lu  ni^'  aliout  three  feel  deep,)  that  you 

!  '  could  not  step  without  actually  treadiiiii:  on  them. 

!  '  The  salmon   of  the  north,  however,  are   not   so 

'  laiae,  fat,  or  fine,  as  those  of  the  (^llum^ia  river; 

'  tor  those  taken  from  this  river  are,  n  v  doubt,  the 

;  •  best  in  the  world.     Some  of  them  will  wei;,;h  fifiy 

'  pomuls:  the  avera'.;-e  weii;-lit  is  aboiu  eii;ateen  ov 

'  t Weill y  pounds." 

In  siiealcinii-  of  '.he  fur  trade,  he  says: 
" 'I'iie  Hudson  Priy  Company  h;is  an  exrlu.^ive 
trade  uorlli  of  the  l,Tniteil 


monopoly  of  all  the  t'tir 


12 


Statrs,  from  Hudson's  Bay  on  one  side,  to  tlic 
Pacific  and  Ri'.ssian  Ffttlcmcnt.s  on  tlic  otlirr; 
and  have  a  vory  larfz;o  nunihcr  oPcnijiUiyres,  wlio 
traverse  this  imincnso  rruioii  in  every  direetion, 
liaviii'^  posts  or  stationsail  over  the  same:  indeed, 
tlicy  have  spread  a  roni|)letn  nctvorit  throni;hout 
tlu;  len;j;tii  and  lireachh  nl'  the  country.  As  tin  y 
iiave  the  fur  trade  entirely  in  their  own  hands, 
they  hiisi)and  tiieir  resources,  and  only  hrini^  out 
an  avcrai^e  quantity  of  furs  cacli  year:  and  wiien 
lliey  become  scarce  at  any  one  post,  they  remove 
from  there,  so  as  to  give  tiie  beaver  and  other 
furs  time  to  resuscitate.  The  company  consists 
of  eiu'lity  meml)ers,  or  shares;  ei<;iu  of  tiic  stock- 
holders reside  in  England,  and  tl;o  otiicrs  in  the 
Oregon  country.  Eacii  diicf  agent,  and  agent.s 
of  cacii  individual  post,  arc  sliareliolders.  The 
fur  trade  is  entirely  nuniopoli/.cd  by  this  compa- 
ny; but  not  cmitent  witli  this,  tlicy  arc  tnrnuig 
their  attention  to  every  othi  r  branch  of  business. 
For  instance,  they  have  talccn  possession  of  al- 
)nost  every  eligi!)le  spot  in  Oregon  where  tliore  is 
a  iralcr  power,  or  a  good  site  for  fuctorhs;  they 
have  selected  out  the  finest  sites  for  farms;  they 
have  erected  mills — both  saw  and  (lour  mills— 
with  ca  view  of  supplying  the  Sandwich  Islands 
with  liimber  and  flour,  and  the  Russians  at  the 
north  with  flour  and  butter  from  their  farms;  they 
are  in  lact  irrasping  at  ererything.  They  are  now 
about  eslai)lishing  a  post  at  the  islands,  as  also 
in  California;  and  a  Mr.  Simpson  has  been  sent 
to  both  these  places  to  efl'ect  this  object,  their  in- 
struction being  to  moiioj)olizc  the  entire  trade  of 
both  places  for  the  sale  of  English  goods,  lum- 
l)er,  flour,  butter,  &c.;  and  unless  our  Govern- 
ment insist  on  our  just  rights,  and  drive  them 
out  of  the  Columbia,  they  will  ceruuiUy  succeed 
in  (hiving  all  the  American  commerce  fVom  both 
the  islands  and  California,  as  they  have  already 
done  from  the  northwest  coast.  Their  resources 
are  immense,  and  their  ambition  unbounded. 
But,  would  tliey  confine  themselves  to  the  region 
north  of  the  United  States,  we  should  have  less 
reason  to  complain,  notwithstanding  they  an^ 
using  our  Just  means — means  that  properly  be- 
long to  the  people  of  the  United  States — to  amii- 
hilatc  our  trade  in  the  Pacific,  while,  up(ni  the 
land,  they  are  cutting  the  best  timber,  and  im- 
proving the  best  soil  in  Oregon,  besides  having 
arrogiued  to  tliemselves  the  alnmst  ex(!lusivc  oc- 
cu]  a  ion  of  the  Columbia  river.  Nor  does  this 
selfish  grasping  at  all  satisfy  them;  for  they  an- 
nually send  a  large  party  through  the  acknowl- 
edgecl  territory  of  the  United  States  to  California, 
to  trap  beaver  and  kill  sea-otter." 
Captain  Spaulding,  in  the  same  jom-nal,  after 
giving  luimerous  instances  of  the  bm'barity  and 
cruelty  of  the  tra]ipers  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Com- 
pany towards  the  huiiiins,  and  the  inhuman  and 
cold-blooded  murde;     i.'(Mmnitled  by  them,  says: 

"Since   then,  as  would  naturally  be  expected, 
'  they  (the  Indians)  had  licen  at  enmity  with  the 

*  whites.  That  these  irresponsibhi  servants  and 
'  agents   of  this   monopolii-ing    Hrilish   comp;iny 

*  should  be  sufi'cred  thus  to  murder,  destroy,  and 
'  rob  these  Indians,  and  eiu'icli  themselves,  through 
'  the  neglect  of  our  Ciovermnent,  whose  duty  it  is 
'  to  protect  these  poor,  defi-nceless,  weak,  and 
'  wretched  beings,  i.s  what  no  man,  as  it  seems  to 


I '  nic,  who  has  the  blood  of  an  American  coursin 
{'  in  his  veins,  can  or  ought  tamely  to  submit  to.     ] 
'  it   not  high  time  that   our  Govei-nment,  after  si 
j  '  long  a  delay,  shotdd  arouse  itself  to  the  protectioi 
'of  lis  own  interests  in  Oregon?     For,  if  it  slei  j 
'  but  a  little  longin-,    that  valuable  territory  is  cf.' 
'  tainly  lost  to   lis  forever.     Give  the  English  onlv 
'  the  nortii  part  of  the  Columbia  I'iver — let   then: 
'  plan',  ten  guns  upon  Cape  Disappointment,  and  all 
'  the  navies  in  the  world  could  not  take    the  coni- 
'  mand  of  the   river   iVom   them.     The   ca|ie   anil 
'  Tongue  point  are  two  perfect  '  Gibmltitrs''  on  tin 
'  Columbia;  and  the  Hudson  Bay  Cmupuiy  hav< 
'  already    taken    posscssioit   of  the  latter,  as  they 
'  have  also  of  every  other  eligible  sjiot  on  the  Co- 
'  lumbia. " 

Captain  Spaulding  says  it  is  the  ]irevailing  opin- 
ion in  Oregon,  tliat  the  grasj)ing  amljition  of  Eng- 
land will  not  stop  short  of  the  ac(|iiisition  of  Cali- 
fornia, with  a  view  of  possessing  themselves  of 
the  bay  and  harbor  of  San  t'rancisco,  the  finest  on 
the  V  l.ole  coast  of  the  Pacific  for  a  naval  depot, 
being  accessible  at  all  times  for  ships  of  any  draught 
of  water.  In  speaking  of  the  colony  from  the 
United  States  settled  on  the  Willamette  river  ninety 
miles  above  its  mouth,  he  says: 

"  It  is  the  finest  grazing  and  wheat  country  in 
'  Oregon.  At  present  (lb41)  it  consists  of  about 
'  seventy  families,  who  raise  considerable  grain, 
'  atid  have  about  three  thou.sand  head  of  cattle. 
'  The  mission  last  year  raised  one  thousand  bushels 
'  of  wheat,  and  made  butter,  cheese,  &c.,  enough 
'  fin"  their  own  use.  They  have  five  hundred  head 
'of  cattle  and  two  hundred  horses;  and  last  year 
'  they  sowed  four  hundred  bushels  of  wheat,  oni 
'  hundred  and  twenty  bushels  of  peas,  and  |ilunteil 
'  a  large  quantity  of  juitaloes  and  vegetables  of  all 
'  descriptions. 

"  Tlie  extent  of  the  country  comprising  the  Wil- 
'  lamette  valley,  is  about  three  hundred  miles  long 
'  and  two  hundred  broad,  interspersed  willnavines 
'  of  wood,  generally  in  sulHcient  quiintities  for  fuel 
'  and  fencing.  The  land,  in  its  natural  state,  is 
'  usually  ready  for  the  plow,  and  is  producing  from 
'  twenty-five  tc  forty  bushels  of  wheat  to  the  acre; 
'  and  the  climate  is  so  mild,  that  the  cattle  subsist 
'  in  the  fields  without  fodder  or  sh(;lter  of  any  kind 
'  being  [irepared  or  provided  for  them  through  the 
'  winter.  Salmon  can  be  taken  at  the  Willamette 
'  falls  (which,  however,  the  British  have  taken 
'  possession  of,  and  compelled  our  people  to  build 
'  their  mills  at  the  falls  above)  with  little  lroul)le, 
'  fnnn  May  to  September,  in  almost  any  quantity. 
'  I  have  no  hesitation  in  saying  that  ten  thousanii 
'  barrels  might  be  taken  jier  annum.  Probsibly  no 
'  place  in  the  world  offers  greater  inducements  to 
'  emigrants.  Provisions  might  readily  be  procured 
'  to  sup|Mirt  one  thousand  emigrants  at  any  time." 
I  think,  Mr.  Chairman,  that  I  have  clearly 
shown  that  the  honorable  gentleman  frenn  Virginia 
was  in  error,  in  believing  that  Great  ijiitain  valued 
this  country  only  for  its/io's,  and  that  tli(>  territory 
is  of  imincnse  value  for  agriculture  alone.  Of  its 
commercial  advantages,  which  have  Ijcen  so  f'ully 
set  forth  by  gentlemen  who  have  priiceeded  me 
in  this  debate,  I  will  only  say,  that  the  most  san- 
guine friends  of  Oregrii  have  not  overnited  these 
advaniages.  and  time  will  prove  my  lu'cdiction 
correct . 


til 

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13 


't  r\n  Ampriran  roursi,, 
ttnniclyto.suliniitto.  j' 
'f  Govcnimnu,  afior  s, 
i^eitwll'f.ahcprntectio, 
'■•^7"",'  l''"i-,  if  it  sle. , 
v;iliial)!e  tcrritorv  is  ce- 
Give  the  Eiiirll.sh  „n|v 
'"inl.ia  i-iv,,T— let   (i,(.,; 

JJ'sappnuitmeni.an.lali 
''•iW  Dot  take  tlic  com- 
them  Ti.e  cape  and 
ii^ct  (.ibrulldrs'  on  tl,, 
on  Bay  Coiupiiiy  haw 
1  of  Ihe  Jattcr,  as  they 
•iigible  sjK.t  on  tlic  Co- 

•  is  the  prevailing  opin- 
pinganihition  of  Enjr- 
lic  :ic(iuisltion  of  Cah- 
isossinn-  them.sclves  of 
'  mnoi.sco,  tJie  fniest,  on 
'!<;    for  a  naval  depot, 

'i-ship,sof'anv(lrau-hl 
the  cohiny  from   tiu. 

Willamette  river  ninety 

ys:  ^ 

uul  wheat  roimtry  in 
)  It  consists  of  about 
3  considerable  j^rain 
«and   head    of  eattle' 
one  thousand  bushels 

clieese,  d-e.,  eiioii<rh 
vehve  hundred  liead 
'on-^es;  and  last  year 
'slicis  of  wheat,  one 

o*  P<-as,  and  planted 
uid  ve-elables  of  ul.' 

Pomprisin^  the  Wil- 
limidred  miles  ion"- 
■■^pcrsed  with  ravines 
,>t  quantities  for  fuel 
Its  natural   state,   i.s 
kI  is  producing- from 
t  wheat  to  the  acre- 
at  the  cattle  subsist 
shelter  of  any  kind 
'•them  throu^di  the 
1  nt  the  Willamette 
Jiitish    have   taken 
'"'•  people  to  build 
uith  little  trouble, 
nost  aiiyf|uaiiiity. 
tluit  ten    thousand 
•ini.     Probably  no 
er  inducements  to 
cadily  I „;  procured 
ants  at  any  time.'" 
It   I   have'  clearly 
nan  from  Vir<jini,i 
'■at  Britain  valued 
tlial  the  (erritorv 
I'-e  alone.     Of  its 
ave  been  so  fully 
^'c  pr(!(eed(!d    mi! 
at  the  most  sau- 
■  overralod    these 
c   luy  prediction 


liCl  mi'  lirre  r|U'iie  a  slinrt  extract  from  a  speecli 
of  the  iiistiii;;-uishcd  Senator  from  iMissouri,  [Mr. 
Bi'iii'.n,]  who  has  irivcn  this  ipiestion  muih  atien- 
tioti,  and  \\  ho.-HC  opinions  are  ilnretore  eiitiilcd  to 
gn.'at  wi  ii;ht.  After  ^:i\iui;-;i  ,;;lowiuic  dcscriptiiui 
of  the  beauty,  grandeur,  and  fertility  of  tli''  coun- 
try, he  says; 

"  .Such  a  country  is  formed  for  union,  wealth, 
'and  streui^th.  h  can  have  but  one  cajiital,  and 
'  that  will  Ijc  a  Thebes;  ijut  one  connnercial  enipo- 
'rium,  and  that  will  be  a  Tyre,  (]ueen  of  cities. 
'  Such  a  country  i;ui  liave  Imi  one  |)eople,  one  in- 
'  terest,  one  Government:  and   that  |)eople  slmidd 

*  be  American,  that  interest  ours,  and  that  (Jovern- 
'  ment  I'epublican.    Accursed  ami  infamous  be  the 

•  mail  that  divides  or  alienates  it." 

We  will  i:;ain  nothing  by  withlioidiiva;  tiu'  notice, 
and  meanwhile  it  is  our  duty — we  owe  it  to  our 
own  .hardy  |iioneer.s — to  quiet  the  ijuestion  of  title. 
It  cannot  lie  dis;;uised  ihat  the  lerlino-  which  pre- 
vails in  that  part  of  the  country  from  which  these 
emi;,n-aniM  i;o,  is,  that  the  territory  is  ours,  and  that 
we  are  ;,rf.in;;  to  protect  it  by  our  laws.  The  emi- 
grants themselves  believe  it,  as  firmly  as  if  it  were 
already  written  in  tlie  statute-imok.  They  went 
there  n.  the  same  spirit  in  whicli  the  Pili,n-iins  came 
to  I'lyiuoutli;  with  the  .sami;  pntiiotism,  the  .same 
love  mid  admiratKui  of  free  ,i,^ovM-iinient,  and  the 
same  desire  to  enlar^^e  the  area  of  tVeedom. 

I  had   intended   to  .say  much  mm-e  on  tliis  sub-  ' 
jeet,  but  I  |)ercei\e  iha.'.  my  time  i.-^  fast  ela[)siiig. 


I      I   re2;ret  that  tlie   correspondence  between  our 
I  Secretary  of  .State  and  the  British  h^nvoy  came  in 
;  l)ef(n-e  I  had  an  opportunity  of  niakiii;;;  the  remarka 
f  had  wislied  t.>  suinnit  to  the  committee.   I  would 
^  not  have  it  understood   that  anythmj:^,  from  any 
cpiarter,  would  have  any  wei^dit  with  me,  beyon'd 
I  it.s  own  intrin.sic  truth.     I  was,  however,  ;,dad  to 
learn  that  the  President  liad   refused   to  arliitratc 
this  fjuestion;  in  this  the  jieople  will  triumphantlv 
sustain  him.     But  I  feel  it  to  be  due  to  myself  am' 
I  to  my  constituents,  to  declare,  thatx-much  as  I 
;  Teiieratc  the  cliaracter  and  btandini;  of  our  di:,tin- 
i  -uished   <"liief  Ma^nstratc— if  the  oiler  made  l)y 
,  limi  of  latitude  4!P  as  a  boundary   line  had  been 
accepted  by  tlie  British  JMiiiister,  the  penj.le  of  the 
j  West  would  have  d(>nounced  the  .act  in  .^uch  term.-^ 
of  censure  as  would   have   made  all   future  Presi- 
:  dents  tremble.     I  req;ret  exceediimly  that  Mv.  Polk 
ever  made  this  oiler.     I  have  no  doubt  he  was  ac- 
I  tuatcd    in  that  offer  by  the  purest  and  ijest  of  mo- 
i  fives— in  my  judgment  there  are  few  wiser  head.s 
,  than  his,   or  purer  hearts;  but  lie  allowed  his  sin- 
I  cere  deference  for  the  acts  of  his  predecessors  to 
peril  his  own  popularity.     The  offer,  happily,  was 
not  accepted,  and  no  very  serious  conse(|uence3 
have  ensued.     Had  it  been  accepted,  tjiis  Admin- 
istration  would  have  been  forever  prostrated — as 
will  any  other  that  ever  hereai'ter  shall  surrender  a 
sin'i:lc  mcli  of  American  soil,  the  title  to  which  i.w 
clear  and  umiuestionublc- 


